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Bureau of Mines Information Circular/1982 




1 



Minerals Health and Safety In-House 
and Contract Research, Development, 
and Demonstration in Fiscal Year 1982 

By Staff, Division of Minerals Health and Safety Technology 




UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 



Information Circular 8872 



Minerals Health and Safety In-House 
and Contract Research, Development, 
and Demonstration in Fiscal Year 1982 

By Staff, Division of Minerals Health and Safety Technology 




UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
James G. Watt, Secretary 

BUREAU OF MINES 
Robert C. Horton, Director 



TA/2 9S' 
■U y 



This publication has been cataloged as follows: 



Minerals health and safety in-house and contract research, de- 
velopment, and demonstration in fiscal year 1982. 

(Information circular - U.S. Bureau of Mines ; 8872) 
Supt. of Docs, no.: I 28.27:8872. 

1. Mine safety— United States. I. United States. Bureau of 
Mines. Division of Minerals Health and Safety Technology. II. Se- 
ries: United States. Bureau of Mines, Information circular ; 8872. 



TN295.U4 



622'.8'0973 



80-607005 AACRl 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Abstract. 1 

Introduction 1 

Program outline 2 

Part I . — In-house research 2 

Health 2 

Resplrable dust 2 

Control of dust formation. 2 

Control of generated dust 2 

Dust Instrumentation and measurement 3 

Radiation hazards 4 

Control of radiation hazards 4 

Radiation Instrumentation and measurement 4 

Test facilities 5 

Noise control 5 

Industrial hygiene. •.•••*• 5 

Toxic gases and materials 5 

Diesel engines and alternative power sources. 6 

Ventilation 6 

Safety 7 

Fires and explosion prevention 7 

Prevention research 7 

Ignition research 7 

Suppression research 8 

Propagation research 8 

Extinguishment research. 8 

Detection, Instrumentation, and alarm 9 

Methane control 9 

Fundamental factors 9 

Control In advance of mining. 10 

Control during mining 10 

Ground control 10 

Mine design and development 10 

Hazard detection and monitoring systems 13 

Roof support systems.. 15 

Safe support Installation 17 

Mining and minerals processing waste stability.. 19 

Industrial-type hazards 20 

Human factors 20 

Electrical 21 

Equipment 21 

Illtimlnatlon 22 

Communication-monitoring 23 

Haulage material handling 23 

Postdlsaster 24 

Survival 24 

Communications 24 

Rescue and mine recovery 25 

Explosives 25 

Explosives and blasting 25 

Systems engineering 26 

Systems analysis 27 

Test facilities 27 



ii 



CONTENTS — Continued 

Page 

Part II. — Contract research 28 

Health 28 

Resplrable dust 28 

Control of dust formation 28 

Control of generated dust 28 

Dust Instrumentation and measurement 30 

Radiation hazards 30 

Control of radiation hazards 30 

Radiation instrumentation and measurement 30 

Noise control 30 

Industrial hygiene 32 

Toxic gases and materials 32 

Diesels 33 

Ventilation 34 

Safety 34 

Fires and explosion prevention 34 

Prevention research 34 

Suppression research 35 

Propagation research 35 

Detection, instrumentation, and alarm research. 35 

Methane control 36 

Control during mining. 37 

Ground control 37 

Mine design and development 37 

Hazard detection and monitoring systems 38 

Roof support systems 38 

Safe support installation 38 

Mining and minerals processing waste stability 40 

Industrial hazards 40 

Human factors 40 

Electrical 42 

Equipment 42 

Illumination 43 

Comnunicatlons-monitoring. 44 

Haulage and materials handling 45 

Postdisaster 46 

Survival 46 

Communications 46 

Rescue and mine recovery 47 

Explosives • 47 

Blasting practices 48 

Systems engineering 48 

Systems analysis 48 

Test facilities 48 



MINERALS HEALTH AND SAFETY IN-HOUSE AND CONTRACT RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION IN FISCAL YEAR 1982 

by 

Staff, Division of Minerals Health and Safety Technology 



ABSTRACT 



This publication summarizes, for 
potential contractors and all other 
interested parties, the research, devel- 
opment, and demonstration of in-house and 
contract projects programmed by the 
Bureau of Mines for fiscal year 1982 
(October 1, 1981-September 30, 1982) 
under its Minerals Health and Safety 



Technology program. The objective of 
these projects is to provide an ordered 
and sequenced series of advance toward 
the Bureau's overall goal of providing 
the systems technology required to create 
a more healthful and safer working envir- 
onment for the Nation's mining and min- 
erals processing workers. 



INTRODUCTION 



The Bureau of Mines conducts a bal- 
anced, continuing in-house research and 
development program to accelerate sys- 
tematic improvements in health and safety 
conditions in U.S. mines. Part I of this 
report outlines the Bureau's present in- 
house effort to all interested parties; 
in particular, potential contractors can 
refer to it when submitting USP's (unso- 
licited proposals) , thus avoiding propos- 
ing research that duplicates work being 
performed by the Bureau. 

It is the policy of the Bureau of 
Mines to utilize as fully as possible the 
capabilities of the private sector in 
minerals research, and to that end 
Part II of this report outlines the 
Bureau's current projected contract 
research needs. 

The projects presented were planned 
at the beginning of the fiscal year and 
are subject to change based on emerg- 
ing priorities and availability of 
funds. Contingencies may require that a 



significant portion of the program be 
deferred into fiscal year 1983 (FY 83) or 
beyond. It is important to realize that 
since this is a summary document, the 
project descriptions related to a design, 
fabrications, and demonstration effort do 
not necessarily imply total package 
procurement. 

Contracts for the Minerals Health 
and Safety Research program will be con- 
ducted in strict accordance with Federal 
Procurement Regulations. Availability of 
requests for proposals (RFP's) will be 
formally advertised in the Commerce Busi- 
ness Daily. No additional information 
will be supplied on these projects until 
after the RFP's are made available and 
then only in strict accordance with 
prescribed procedures. This document is 
not intended to solicit proposals from 
the contracting community. All USP's 
whose content reflects the objective(s) 
of the proposed projects listed herein 
will be returned without formal review. 



PROGRAM OUTLINE 



The objective of the Minerals Health 
and Safety Technology program is to pro- 
tect the health and safety of mining and 
minerals processing workers while insur- 
ing that newly developed technology 
incorporates health and safety criteria. 
In achieving this objective, four funda- 
mental and complementary requirements 
must be considered by the research pro- 
gram, as follows: 

1. Contributing to the viability of 
a basic industry. 



Minerals Health and Safety Technology 
program is divided into 12 subprogram 
areas as shown: 

Health 

Respirable dust 
Radiation hazards 
Noise control 
Industrial hygiene 
Ventilation 

Safety 



2. Sustaining productivity. 

3. Allowing for a return on papltal 
Investment. 

4. Providing material and energy to 
the public. 



Fires and explosion prevention 

Methane control 

Ground control 

Industrial-type hazards 

Postdisaster 

Explosives 

Systems engineering 



Since mining and minerals processing The objectives of these subprograms are 



involve a highly integrated and inter- 
related set of functions , the program has 
been divided into a set of interrelated 
subprograms, each with goals that will 
provide systems technology solutions 
to the problems within the framework 
of these fundamental requirements. The 



described in the following pages, fol- 
lowed by the planned projects and their 
corresponding descriptions. The aggre- 
gate value of the planned in-house proj- 
ects is approximately $21 million and of 
the anticipated contracts, $19 million. 



PART I. —IN-HOUSE RESEARCH 



Health 



Respirable Dust 



Program Objectives : To develop pro- 
cedures for controlling the respirable 
dusts that still constitute the severest 
health problem facing the mining and 
mineral processing industries. To devel- 
op and/or improve techniques and equip- 
ment to prevent formation of hazardous 
dust concentrations, and to protect min- 
ers against dusty atmospheres. 

Control of Dust Formation 

1. Reduction of Airborne Coal Dust With 
Increased Machine Efficiency 

Objective : To develop background 
information of a fundamental nature on 



coal cutting technology that supports 
long-term solution to problems of primary 
dust generation during coal cutting. To 
continue to determine the effect of cut- 
ting speed and the behavior of the dust 
cloud as it is ejected from the coal- 
cutter interface. To continue coopera- 
tive effort with Sandia Laboratories to 
develop a long-life, low-dust bit design 
based on the use of diamond compacts. 

Control of Generated Dust 

2. Dust Control by Chemicals and 
Chemical Additives 

Objective : To continue to identify 
and develop the most cost-effective 
chemical dust controls for specific 



applications in surface and underground 
mines. To develop guidelines for selec- 
tion and use of chemical wetting agents 
through optimization of the sink and cap- 
illary rise tests. 

3. Development of Improved Dust Control 
Technologies for Coal Mines 

Objective : To continue to develop 
and evaluate improved dust control tech- 
niques in underground coal mines based on 
shrouded high-pressure sprays. Conduct 
surveys of longwall faces to relate dust 
concentrations and engineering parameters 
on those sections which are not in com- 
pliance with the 2 mg/m^ standard. 
Transfer technology developed under con- 
tracts and in-house projects to the 
industry. 

4. Dust Control Technologies for Metal 
and Nonmetal Mines and Processing 
Mills 

Objective ; To continue to conduct 
preliminary studies leading to develop- 
ment of improved dust control techniques 
for metal and nonmetal mines and mineral 
processing mills. To evaluate various 
preconditioning agents and their effect 
on lowering overall dust levels in pro- 
cessing plants. To demonstrate the fea- 
sibility and effectiveness of using a 
Bureau-developed, small, dry dust col- 
lector at a surface processing facility. 
To conduct field studies to define the 
effective dust protection factor of the 
Racal dust helmet. 

5. Survey of Dust Control Problems 

Objective ; To determine the size 
distribution, concentration, and chemical 
conq)osition of airborne particles in 
selected metal and nonmetal, diesel and 
nondiesel underground mines. Typical 
values and overall range of values shall 
be determined for the size distribution 
of quartz (free silica), diesel particu- 
late, and selected trace elements and 
confounds. 



6. Analysis of MSHA Health and Safety 
Inspection Data From Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines 

Objective ; Provide Mining Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) and 
Bureau personnel with trend analyses of 
airborne contaminant data and isolate 
locations and operations in specific min- 
eral industries where respirable dust 
exposures are excessive. Additionally, 
historical summaries will be provided to 
MSHA and/or Bureau personnel interested 
in specific research areas (that is, 
noise, clay-shale, dusts, welding fumes), 
and labor statistics will be associated 
with each MSHA operation code. 

Dust Instrumentation and Measurement 

7. Respirable Dust Measurement and 
Instrumentation Evaluation 

Objective ; To initiate exploratory 
work on the design of coal mine respir- 
able dust monitoring strategies for con- 
trol of the miner's exposure. Continue 
to conduct short-term evaluation of newly 
developed instruments and measurement 
techniques. To seek out new aerosol 
detection techniques and determine feasi- 
bility of applying them to the measure- 
ment needs of the mining industry. To 
maintain an aerosol laboratory and con- 
tinue to improve the in-house expertise 
in aerosol measurement. 

8. Characterization of Airborne Coal 
Dust 

Objective ; To determine the size 
distribution of mineral particulates in 
coal dust samples with special emphasis 
on size of silica particles as related to 
type of mining operation and mineralogy 
of the inorganic constituents in the 
coal. To evaluate existing methods for 
silica determination in coal dust. 
Infrared, X-ray, and electron microscopic 
methods will be emphasized. Emphasis 
will be given to evaluating the effect 
of grain size on the magnitude of the 



analytical signal and methods to reduce 
this grain size dependence. To determine 
the silica content of selected samples 
provided by MSHA and other agencies. 

Radiation Hazards 

Program Objectives ; To develop and 
provide new and improved measurement 
instrumentation and control technology 
for protection of miners from exposure to 
radon and radon daughters and other 
nuclear radiation hazards in uranium and 
other mines. 

Control of Radiation Hazards 

1. Radon Control Technology 

Objective : To continue modeling on 
the computer the effects of positive 
pressure ventilation and barometric pres- 
sure on the radon concentration using 
various permeability, diffusion, and por- 
osity coefficients. Begin to develop 
computer programs to model ventilation 
effects and control of radiation hazards. 
To conduct preliminary studies under mem- 
orandum of agreement with two mining com- 
panies to determine the major sources of 
radon from intake to exhaust and the 
effects of fan shutdown (both surface and 
underground) on the radon-radon daughter 
concentrations in the mine. To continue 
laboratory and mine studies of transport 
of radon by water, dewatering of mill 
tailings slime for backfilling, and posi- 
tive pressure ventilation. 

2. Control of Radiation Hazards Through 
Air Cleaning 

Objective ; To continue research on 
the use of air-cleaning techniques for 
removal of radon daughters from under- 
ground mine atmospheres. Emphasis will 
be on performance of various prototype 
air-cleaning systems with regard to their 
efficiency in removing daughter products 
and their useful life expectancy in a 
uranium mine environment. To conduct a 
preliminary feasibility study of using 



high-velocity electrostatic air cleaners 
in mine ventilation tubing. To provide 
necessary technical assistance to the 
contractor during testing phase of a pro- 
totype air-cleaning system. 

Radiation Instrumentation and 
Measurement 

3. Electronic Radon Daughter Personal 
Dosimeter 

Objective ; To continue development 
and keep abreast of work in the area of 
radon daughter personal dosimetry. To 
engage in necessary technology transfer 
by providing technical assistance to 
potential users. 

4. Personal Exposure Instrumentation and 
Measurement Technology 

Objective ; To conduct laboratory 
and field studies on instrumentation and 
methods for exposure measurement related 
to the miner's exposure to ionizing radi- 
ation hazards with emphasis on the mea- 
surement of radon daughter products. To 
evaluate the measurement of radon as a 
standard for exposure control and inves- 
tigate radon dosimeters. To evaluate the 
effects of trace gases on the accuracy of 
radon measurements. To continue coopera- 
tive studies of passive radon detectors 
and active working level detectors. To 
continue the development of continuous 
detector systems for measuring working 
levels and radon. 

5. Radiation Warning System for Uranium 
Mines 

Objective ; To continue field evalu- 
ation of full system at large uranium 
mining operations. To demonstrate stand- 
alone detector at smaller operations. To 
revise software and hardware to reflect 
improvements suggested by previous field 
tests. Modifications shall also be added 
to enable ventilation and other parameter 
monitoring. 



Test Facilities 

6. Lease and Operate the Twilight Mine 

Objective ; To operate and maintain 
an underground uranium mine as a test 
facility to provide typical mine environ- 
mental conditions for research and devel- 
opment studies conducted by the Bureau of 
Mines, MSHA, other Government agencies, 
and outside contractors in the area of 
radiation hazards. To continue to uti- 
lize the facility for the conduct of 
training sessions for MSHA, State, and 
industry personnel involved in measuring 
radon, radon daughter, and gamma ray 
exposures in mines. This training is 
done in cooperation with MSHA. 

Noise Control 

Program Obj ect ives ; To identify 
noise sources in underground and surface 
mines and in related mineral cleaning and 
preparation facilities, and to abate 
these noise sources sufficiently to meet 
Federal noise exposure standards. 



degree of noise reduction provided in the 
field. The in-mine performance of per- 
sonal hearing protectors is to be estab- 
lished, along with procedures and equip- 
ment to make in-mine measurement of 
hearing protector performance. 

Industrial Hygiene (Toxic Substances) 

Program Objectives ; To identify and 
control health hazards in surface and 
underground mines and mineral processing 
plants caused by toxic gases and fumes, 
and certain particulates produced by 
explosives, combustible materials, and 
diesel engines. To develop and evaluate 
new instrumentation for monitoring these 
substances. To develop and/or refine 
analytical techniques for measuring and 
characterizing toxic substances, and 
investigate methods for controlling the 
formation and accumulation of toxic prod- 
ucts. To analyze alternative power 
sources that may have health advantages 
over existing mine diesels. 

Toxic Gases and Materials 



1. Development of Noise Control 
Techniques for Coal Mining 
Machinery 

Objective ; To further the implemen- 
tation of noise control techniques to the 
mining industry. This will be accom- 
plished via equipment development and 
dissemination of information. 

2. Noise Study of Lead and Other 
Metal-Nonmetal Mining in the 
Central United States 

Objective ; To identify work areas 
in metal and nonmetal mines where noise 
exposure of personnel is most severe and 
the need for noise control technology is 
most urgent. 

3. Measurement of Noise Reduction 
Provided by Hearing Protectors 
Worn by Miners 

Objective ; To investigate methods 
of evaluating hearing protector perform- 
ance that could be used to determine the 



1. Explosive Fume Characterization 

Objective ; To establish the rela- 
tionship between toxic fumes produced in 
a 38,000-liter chamber and those produced 
in the Bichel Gage and C-J Apparatus and 
relate these to actual explosive fumes 
from in-mine measurements. To carry out 
fume measurements on all types of mining 
explosives including blasting agents and 
establish standard test procedures for 
the measurement of toxic fumes. 

2. Improved Instruments for Mine Gases 

Objective ; To evaluate and verify 
the performance of commercially available 
or contract-developed instrvments and 
devices for noxious and toxic gases. To 
acquire instruments and devices and 
evaluate their operation under varying 
conditions of temperature, humidity, and 
pressure. To determine the stability, 
accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and 
applicability to measure noxious and 
toxic gases in the mining environ- 
ment. To assess air quality monitoring 



strategies and methods to determine their 
effectiveness in the underground mine 
environment. To develop a portable, 
self-contained diesel exhaust gas ana- 
lyzer which is mine rugged. 



Diesel Engines and Alternative Power 
Sources 

6. Control of Diesel Exhaust 
Contaminants 



3. Measurement and Control of Welding 
Fumes 

Objective : To assess related in- 
dustry practices pertaining to measure- 
ment and control of welding and cutting 
fumes, dust, and radiation, and adapt 
this technology to confined work areas 
found in the mining environment. To 
detenuine the quantity and character of 
welding pollutants and personnel exposure 
levels. To propose control systems 
and/or isolation techniques to . reduce 
or eliminate exposure to toxic sub- 
stances resulting from welding and 
cutting. 

4. Thermal Stress — Measurement and 
Protection 

Objective ; To develop a realistic, 
practical means to assess the high- 
temperature, high-humidity environments 
of the hot, deep, underground mines. To 
determine heat stress conditions in the 
mines which are detrimental to worker 
health. To evaluate the Imminent Danger 
Heat Stress Index programmed in a 
Hewlett-Packard 41C hand calculator in a 
human laboratory and in the mining 
environment. 

5. Mercury Vapor Suppression in Mercury 
Ore Processing 

Objective ; To determine the condi- 
tions under which mercury vapor is 
released during grinding and froth flota- 
tion operations, and correlate these con- 
ditions with measured levels of vapor 
emmissions. To develop a hydrometal- 
lurgical alternative to the present 
roasting process for processing mercury 
concentrates into the pure metal. 



Objective ; To supplement contract 
research in the control and analysis of 
diesel exhaust emissions. To measure am- 
bient contaminants and correlate with 
emissions data. To investigate control 
systems for contaminants by means of lab- 
oratory experiments. To devise and 
select analytical procedures for emission 
control systems and components at the 
tailpipe and ambient levels. 

7. Investigation of Emission Controls 
for Diesel Engines Operated 
Underground and Alternative Power 
Source Assessment 

Objective : To identify potential 
methods and hardware applicable for use 
as emission controls for turbocharged 
mine diesels. To review the literature 
as to the current state of knowledge per- 
taining to the use of internal combustion 
engines operating underground. To study 
applications of diesel equipment in new 
mining systems such as oil shale. To 
assess alternative power sources that may 
have health and operational advantages 
over existing mine diesels. 

Ventilation 

Program Objectives : To develop ven- 
tilation systems required to maintain a 
safe and healthful atmosphere conducive 
to efficient work output in noncoal 
mines . 

1. Development of Improved Ventilation 
Technology for Noncoal Mines and 
Mills 

Objective ; To develop improved 
technologies for ventilating and cooling 
s topes and development headings in hot 



metal and nonmetal mines. To develop im- 
proved and safe methods of heating shafts 
in winter to prevent ice buildups and to 
make the transport of personnel comfort- 
able. To continue to develop methods of 
ventilating dead-ended working headings 
in metal and nonmetal mines. 

Safety 

Fire and Explosion Prevention 

Program Objectives : To reduce the 
potential for fire or explosion in min- 
eral extraction and processing opera- 
tions; to minimize the danger to people 
on account of fires or explosions that do 
occur. 

Prevention Research 

1. Flammability of Mine Combustibles — 
Worn Belts, Containers, Brattice 
Cloth, and Electrical Spray Cleaners 

Objective : (1) Evaluate flammabil- 
ity hazard of worn conveyor belts, aero- 
sol sprays, and oil-grease containers. 
(2) Determine adequacy of current tests 
fo foam materials. (3) Develop small- 
scale flame test for brattice cloth. 

2. Control of Float Dust 

Objective : (1) Perform field demon- 
strations of engineering techniques such 
as water sprays and dust collectors to 
control float coal dust; (2) simultane- 
ously, perform field tests of a new 
remote dust deposition monitor and new 
in-mine incombustible meter. 

3. Float Dust Formation and Deposition 

Objective : Redesign trickle duster 
to give size distribution of rock dust 
which more closely matches that of float 
coal dust. 

4. Improved Bit Materials for Continuous 
Coal Mining Machines 

Objective : To reduce frictional 
ignitions by improving the materials or 



the configuration of materials used in 
coal-cutter bits on continuous-mining 
machines. 

5. Fire and Explosion Properties of 
Oil Shale 

Objective ; Continue to test fire 
and explosion hazard scenarios in large- 
scale tests involving bulk and dust 
samples; monitor methane emissions in 
operating oil shale mines; and conduct 
laboratory evaluations of spontaneous 
combustion of oil shale and explosibility 
of retort gas. 

6. Fire and Explosion Hazards of Oil 
Mining 

Objective ; In collaboration with 
industry, develop and test fire and 
explosion scenarios in oil mines, test 
total combustible meters, and propose 
hazard prevention guidelines. 

Ignition Research 

7. Laboratory Dust Flammability Testing 

Objective : To develop a reliable 
standard apparatus and procedure for 
evaluating flammability limits and pres- 
sure development for pure dusts in air 
and for dust-fuel gas mixtures in air. 
To correlate the data with full-scale 
mine studies. To investigate new, prac- 
tical inhibitors as supplements to rock 
dusting. To investigate the adequacy of 
current rock dusting requirements in 
gassy mines. 

8. Spontaneous Combustion of Mine 
Combustibles and Modeling for 
Coal, Oil Shale, and Sulfide Ore 

Objective ; To investigate spontane- 
ous heating of mine combustibles includ- 
ing coal, oil shale, and purites and to 
develop reliable combustion criteria for 
identifying incipient mine fire hazards. 
To develop a mathematical model of spon- 
taneous combustion in piles of coal, oil 
shale, and pyrites. 



9. Ignition Hazard of Sintered Metal 
Brake Linings 

Objective : To determine extent of 
the methane ignition hazard when using 
sintered metallic friction components in 
the braking systems of underground coal 
mining equipment. If a hazard exists, 
develop an evaluation method including 
suggested guidelines. 

10. Thermal Ignition of Coal Dust 

Objective ; Determine the mechanism 
of ignition of dust clouds and layers and 
delineate the effectiveness of methods of 
preventing ignition. 

11. Bit Parameters for Methane Ignition 
Reduction 

Objective ; Perform fundamental 
studies to improve bit design and define 
best bit usage to reduce the probability 
of methane ignitions caused by frictional 
impact heating during cutting. 

12. Pacification of Sulfide Oxidation 

Objective : Determine the kinetics 
and mechanisms of low-temperature oxida- 
tion of sulfides, particularly pyrite, to 
identify the rate controlling step(s). 
Apply the results of this study to iden- 
tify chemical and physical inhibitors and 
validate in mines the ability of these 
inhibitors to prevent or retard sulfide 
oxidation and reduce the probability o^ 
mine fires and the resultant loss of 
property and life. 

13. Retorting Process Ignition Hazards 

Objective : Make an assessment of 
potential hazards associated with in situ 
retorting process. Identify possible 
retort gas compositions, and hazardous 
scenarios. Identify those areas that 
should fall under hazardous area classi- 
fication. Identify the most dangerous 
parameter configurations and the techni- 
cal information necessary to ensure safe 
operation. Generate the necessary data. 
Make recommendations to MSHA regarding 
future safety regulations. 



Suppression Research 

14. Explosion and Fire Ignition 
Prevention and Suppression 

Objective ; Develop, test, and con- 
duct field trials of new tool bit mate- 
rials and/or tool bit geometries for the 
prevention of face ignitions; barriers 
for the suppression of face ignitions; 
barriers for the suppression of gas and 
coal dust explosions. 

15. Fire-Suppression System Component 
Ruggedization and Fi re-Resistant 
Water-Glycol Fluid 

Objective ; Develop improved rug- 
gedized fire-protection hardware and pro- 
cedures for mobile mining equipment. 
Also, monitor development by Government 
and industry of water-glycol fire- 
resistant hydraulic fluids. 

16. Improved Mine Fire Protection 

Objective ; Improve fire safety in 
underground metal and nonmetal mines 
through tests of Improved early fire 
warning systems in the FMC Corp. Green 
River Mine, AMAX Henderson Mine, and 
Noranda Lakeshore Mine. 

Propagation Research 

17. Full-Scale Mine Explosion Research 
and Bulkhead Tests 

Objective ; To conduct research on 
the propagation and suppression of full- 
scale explosions of dust and gas in 
experimental mines; to develop and main- 
tain instrumentation in both the experi- 
mental mine and in Lake Lynn Laboratory; 
to evaluate the strength and endurance of 
explosion-proof bulkheads and water seals 
using full size candidate bulkhead with 
appropriate anchorage. 

Extinguishment Research 

18. Sealed Mine Fires 

Objective : Develop needed guide- 
lines for safe reopening of a mine 



following the sealing of a coal mine fire 
and evaluate reliability of fire- 
detection systems. 

Detection, Instrtmientation, and Alarm 

19. Evaluate Detection Systems for Fires 
in Mine Passageways 

Objective ; (1) To develop adequate 
fire sensors and sensing methodologies; 
(2) to define detection criteria and 
associated guidelines for the optimum 
deplo3mient of sensors and sensing systems 
for early warning of fires. 

20. Microscopic Structure and 
Composition of Combustible 
Dusts and Residues 

Objective ; To determine pre- and 
post-explosion information on the surface 
characteristics, size distribution and 
compositional distribution of (1) combus- 
tible dusts, (2) mixtures of dusts and 
inhibitors, and (3) the effects of added 
methane on those surface characteristics, 
and to use such information for post- 
disaster investigations. 

21. Remote Methane Detection 

Objective ; To determine the Raman 
scattering properties of methane and 
other flammable gases; to develop and 
demonstrate on the laboratory scale 
remote measurement techniques for 
methane. 

22. Mine (Fire) Ventilation, Code, 
Modification, and Maintenance 

Objective ; The improvement of the 
applicability, utility, and acceptability 
of the mine (fire) ventilation simulation 
computer program developed by Michigan 
Technological University (under con- 
tract J0285002) for the Bureau. 

Methane Control 

Program Objectives ; To develop , 
demonstrate, and transfer technology that 
will prevent the formation of flammable 
methane-air mixtures in underground mine 



workings through improved ventilation and 
procedures for degasifying the mineral 
deposit in advance of and during mining. 
To establish correlations between the 
geology of the mineral, adjacent strata, 
and their gas content, and to use these 
correlations to predict methane emission 
hazards. 

Fundamental Factors 

1. The Origin and Geologic Influences on 
the Migration of Methane Into Metal 
and Nonmetal Mines 

Objective ; To establish, by means 
of data obtained by in-mine and labora- 
tory studies, the stratigraphy and geo- 
logical structures that contribute to 
varying concentrations of gases within 
metal and nonmetal mines; to determine 
the composition of gases and the factors 
that influence the migration and reten- 
tion of these gases into metal and non- 
metal mines; and to develop predictive 
models for the occurrence of gassy areas 
within the ore bodies in advance of 
mining. 



2. 



Influence of Geology on Occurrence 
and Emission of Methane in Coal 
Measures 



Objective ; To conduct geologic 
investigations of gassy, minable coalbeds 
to determine the factors controlling the 
amount and distribution of methane, and 
the effect on mining; determine the gas 
contents of U.S. coalbeds and improve 
predictive techniques; determine the 
influence of coal macerals on gas gen- 
eration and retention; aid in assessing 
the geologic feasibility of proposed 
methane drainage sites. 

3. Prediction of Coalbed Discontinuities 
to Increase Effectiveness of Drilling 
for Methane Drainage 

Objective ; To determine fundamental 
geological criteria that can be used to 
predict the presence of coalbed discon- 
tinuities in advance of mining and to 
refine statistical techniques that can be 
used to evaluate the probability of 



10 



encountering discontinuities during meth- 
ane drainage drilling. Particular empha- 
sis will be placed upon those discon- 
tinuity characteristics that adversely 
affect methane drainage projects. 

Control in Advance of Mining 

4. Application of Vertical Borehole 
Methane Drainage to Mine Safety 

Objective : By demonstrating the 
feasibility of draining gas in advance of 
mining from gassy coalbeds through verti- 
cal boreholes, this project will deter- 
mine the effects of borehole spacing and 
methods of stimulation on reducing meth- 
ane gas emissions into mine workings. 

5. Investigation of Available Technology 
for Directional Drilling of Coalbeds 



8. Gob Degasif ication From Underground 
Locations 

Objective : To determine if methane 
emissions from gob areas of longwall pan- 
els can be effectively controlled by 
drilling small-diameter boreholes into 
the overlying strata from within the mine 
before longwall mining begins. 

9. Ventilation in Control of Methane 

Objective : To reduce mine air leak- 
age by improving mine stopping construc- 
tion methods and materials and to develop 
better methods of ventilating the working 
sections of coal mines. 

10. Design and Development Improved 
Horizontal Drilling Equipment for 
Methane Drainage 



Objective : To improve the technol- 
ogy of directional drilling for removing 
methane from coalbeds in advance of 
mining. 



Objective : To design and develop 
faster and longer reach horizontal drill- 
ing equipment for use in underground mine 
methane drainage projects. 



Control During Mining 

6. Application of Horizontal Drilling 
Technology to Health and Safety 
Problems in Metal and Nonmetal Mines 

Objective : To conduct detailed 
analysis of methods for locating and 
identifying gas-bearing in metal and non- 
metal mines by drilling small-diameter 
holes in advance of mining, and to Inves-, 
tigate techniques for reducing or elimi- 
nating the hazards associated with the 
rapid release of energy (outbursts) when 
mining encounters the gas-bearing zones. 

7. Development of Control Techniques 
Using Horizontal Boreholes 

Objective : To determine the effec- 
tiveness of long, horizontal boreholes on 
reducing methane levels during mining 
through natural drainage, and to deter- 
mine the application of drilling in 
advance of mining to locate and identify 
areas, such as clay veins, fault zones, 
and other coalbed discontinuities, that 
may cause problems for future mining. 



Ground Control 

Program Objectives : To conceive, 
develop, demonstrate, and transfer tech- 
nology that will prevent mine accidents 
attributable to falls of ground, out- 
bursts, slope failures, and collapse of 
waste impoundment structures. 

Mine Design and Development 

1. Delineation of Abandoned Mine 

Workings and Other Mining Hazards 
With Integrated Geophysics 

Objective : Field test high- 
resolution seismics, acoustic seismics, 
radar, resistivity measurement, and 
controlled-source tellurics over known 
abandoned mine workings. The data from 
these tests will be processed with the 
latest integrated geophysics modeling, 
and reverifies with onsite drilling. 
Further development of three-dimensional 
radar and seismic techniques will also be 
covered. 



11 



2. Use of High Resolution Resistivity 
System To Locate Abandoned Mine 
Workings 

Objective ; Establish operational 
techniques for using high-resolution 
resistivity to detect old abandoned mines 
in proximity to current mine activities 
and to demonstrate the effectiveness of 
the method for hazard detection in a 
variety of mining areas. 



and floor rocks when estimating pillar 
strength that occurs when coal is tested 
between platens made of rock, rather than 
of steel. The potential Impact of roof 
and floor rocks on the application of 
laboratory test data to coal mine design, 
and on future test methods, will be 
determined. 

7. Entry Design for Longwall Mining 
on Steeply Pitching Coal Seams 



3. Computerized Remote Sensing 
Techniques for Detection of 
Potential Hazards in Mine Areas 

Objective : Refine and demonstrate 
to the mining industry the use and the 
advantages of a developed computerized 
remote sensing technique for the detec- 
tion of geologic hazards, which may cause 
sudden inundation and roof falls. A 
secondary objective is to determine the 
optimum satellite image types and scales 
for hazard detection. 

4. Develop Improved Coal Mine Design 
Procedures 

Objective ; Develop the practical 
application of analytical techniques to a 
coal mine design using the MIN SIM-type 
computer program and the confined core 
pillar design method, and demonstrate 
their use in designing safer coal 
mine openings, pillar, and extraction 
layouts. 

5. Evaluation of Room-and-Plllar Design 
Methods 

Objective : Evaluate existing pub- 
lished pillar design methods, select the 
more promising, modify and develop new 
methods, test selected methods in mines, 
and publish the most practical and useful 
methods in as-deslgn guidelines for room- 
and-plllar mines. 

6. Influence of Roof and Floor Rocks 
on the Strength of Coal Pillars 

Objective ; Demonstrate the need to 
account for the properties of the roof 



Objective : Demonstrate the appli- 
cation of computer modeling techniques to 
planning of a longwall coal mine opera- 
tion in a steeply pitching seam, with 
emphasis on establishing an optimum safe 
entry width as a function of overburden 
depth. 

8. Analysis of Cutter Roof in Coal 
Mines Using the Finite Element 
Method 

Objective : Demonstrate the practi- 
cal applicability of the finite-element 
structural analysis method in establish- 
ing the cause and predicting the forma- 
tion of a cutter-roof failure, and deter- 
mine design alternatives that reduce the 
occurrence of cutter-type roof falls in 
coal mines. 

9. Face Slabbing Along High Longwall 
Faces in the Western United States 

Objective ; Investigate the face 
slabbing problem along high longwall 
faces in the Western United States and 
devise remedial measures for trial for 
controlling face slabbing to Improve 
safety, increase production, and increase 
coal recovery. 

10. Assessment of Clay Vein and 

Sllkenside Support Techniques 

Objective ; Determine the various 
support procedures and mechanisms used on 
clay veins of various types and assess 
the support techniques in terms of their 
effectiveness and appropriateness for 
particular structural details of clay 
veins. 



12 



1 1. Development of Classification of 
Mine Roof According to Support 
Mechanism Efficiency 

Objective : Develop a systematic 
framework for classifying mine roofs 
based on observed effective control tech- 
niques. Data already collected from 
22 mines will be analyzed to aid oper- 
ators in selecting the best available 
roof system for their mines. 

12. Anchorage of Inundation Bulkheads 
in Coal Mine Openings 

Objective ; Test and evaluate the 
various methods of anchoring inundation 
bulkheads in underground coal mine open- 
ings and develop a handbook of inundation 
bulkhead design and construction. The 
testing will encompass the range of fac- 
tors that affect anchorage, such as 
deterioration with time, water pressure, 
environmental constraints, and the mate- 
rial composition of roof, floor, and 
ribs. 

13. Development of Design Procedure to 
be Used in Layout of Workings In 
Multiple-Seam Mining Situations 

Objective ; Development of a tech- 
nique to assess the impacts (from the 
point of view of vertical pressure peaks) 
of a mine layout in the vicinity of a 
previously mined seam. This will be 
accomplished by inputing the description 
of the old workings, and proposed layout 
for the new workings. The resulting ver- 
tical pressure contours in the nev; work- 
ings will be calculated and output in an 
iterative mode until the designer is sat- 
isfied with the resulting pressure con- 
tour data. 

14. Prediction of Unstable Mine Roof 
Based on Remote Sensing Analysis 

Objective : Verify the relationship 
between photo linears and unstable roofs 
and identify the geologic features 
associated with the photo linears on two 
mines for which aerial photographic 
and/or satellite imagery analysis has 
been done. 



15. Full-Scale Model Testing of Roof 
Bolting Systems 

Objective : Perform full-scale model 
tests of roof bolting systems using the 
SRC Model Roof Bolt Test System. Also, 
replace the model mine opening with a new 
set of concrete slabs for the next series 
of tests. 

16. Analytical Modeling and Field 
Verification of Roof Bolting 
Criteria 

Objective ; Develop guidelines for 
roof reinforcement using mechanically 
anchored bolts, fully grouted bolts, 
friction stabilizers, inorganic grouted 
bolts, inclined bolts, and roof truss 
systems. Characterize the field condi- 
tions best suited for each method. Vali- 
date the most tenable rock bolt support 
theories developed by previously com- 
pleted contract research. 

17. Safety Procedures for Reducing Roof 
Falls Due to Swelling and Slaking 
Roof Rock 

Objective ; Measuring surface prop- 
erties, bulk properties, and the shear 
strength of coal measure rocks during 
wet-dry cycles, establish "damage factor" 
and "durability index, " and develop pro- 
cedures to mitigate roof falls that may 
result from swelling, slaking, and weak- 
ening effects of coal measure rocks due 
to humidity changes. 

18. Engineering Properties of Coal 
Measure Rocks in the Illinois 
Coal Basin 

Objective ; Develop engineering 
property data for ground control 
application and geophysical detection of 
geologic hazards in the Illinois Coal 
Basin. Core and rock samples from 
various localities in that region will be 
tested to determine mechanical properties 
including uniaxial and tensile strengths, 
triaxial shear strength, acoustic 
wave velocities, and dynamic elastic 
moduli. 



13 



19. Longwall Mining Design Parameters 

Objective ; Determine the critical 
design parameters for safe longwall min- 
ing systems by measuring the mining- 
induced load transfer, measuring the roof 
and floor strata movements, and determin- 
ing the roof and floor strata-bearing 
capacities. 

20. Demonstration of a Single-Entry 
System for Longwall Mining 

Objective ; Develop and demon- 
strate a single-entry development system 
designed to reduce ground control hazards 
associated with retreat longwall mining. 
This project will provide a method for 
economic and safe extraction of deep coal 
resources. 

21. Ground Control Design for Hard Rock 
Mines 

Objective ; Develop analytical de- 
sign procedures and criteria that will 
reduce the structural instability associ- 
ated with underground hardrock mining 
systems. The focus will be on the inter- 
acting influence of the floor, roof, and 
suppor structures and its impact on over- 
all mine stability. Primary emphasis 
will be on entry development and selec- 
tion of mining systems in evaporite 
deposits. 

22. Evaluation of Ground Stability 
Problems in Quarry Operations 

Objective ; Identify ground control 
hazards in selected quarries and deter- 
mine the relation between quarrying- 
induced stresses, rock structures, and 
ground stability. 

23. Pillar Destressing in Advance of 
Mining 

Objective ; Demonstrate how to 
destress rock-burst-prone stope areas in 
advance of production mining. Instrumen- 
tation installation in the test block on 
the 7900 level of the Star Mine, Idaho, 



will be monitored to assess a full- 
scale application of the destressing 
techniques. 

24. Pre-Mine Planning To Reduce Ground 
Control Problems and Rock Burst 
Hazards 

Objective ; Improve ground control 
and minimize rock burst hazards in deep 
metal mines by utilizing advanced struc- 
tural analysis to design stope geometry 
and plan mining sequences. 

25. Mechanical Properties Handbook and 
Data Base 

Objective ; Prepare a manual and 
mechanical property numerical data base 
for a wide range of rock types encoun- 
tered in metal and nonmetal mines. Data 
sets will include rock density, perme- 
ability, porosity, wave velocities, dy- 
namic elastic constants, uniaxial com- 
pressive and tensile strength, indirect 
tensile strength by Brazilian line-load 
method, shore hardness, and other 
properties. 

Hazard Detection and Monitoring Systems 

26. Automatic Roof Fall Warning System 

Objective ; The immediate objective 
is to test the commercial prototype, 
microseismic roof fall warning system, 
modify it as necessary to achieve a high 
reliability, and transfer the technology 
to industry. The overall objective is to 
provide a reliable automatic device to 
warn of impending roof falls to assure 
that people are not in the area during 
failure. 

27. Coal Mine Bounce and Outburst 
Studies 



Objective ; Show the applicability 
of microseismic techniques in locating 
bounce and/or outburst failure areas rel- 
ative to mine structures and predict- 
ing each failure. Work to date has 
shown these techniques effective, but 



14 



additional research is needed to deter- 
mine their reliability and define the 
ways and means in which industry may use 
them. 

28. Validity of Existing Blasting 
Proximity Criteria and Scaling Laws 

Objective : Determine what consti- 
tutes damage to an underground mine open- 
ing and quantify the relationship between 
the magnitude of the measured parameter 
and the damage produced. Evaluate the 
parameters such as particle velocity, 
displacement, and strain, and determine 
which parameter will best indicate prob- 
able damage. Guidelines will be devel- 
oped for estimating safe operating 
distances between surface blasting oper- 
ations and underground coal mine 
openings. 

29. Mine Roof Movement Warning System 

Objective ; Develop a simplified and 
cost-effective method using a laser beam 
to monitor the stability of the roof in 
main entries, passageways, belt lines, 
and escapeways. Demonstrate the tech- 
nique as a reliable, easily installed and 
maintained system. Make the system 
easily movable to new locations. 

30. Application of In-Seam Seismic 
Techniques for Detection of Voids 
and Faults 

Objective ; Establish the uses and 
limitations of seismic seam wave tech- 
nology for the detection of voids and 
faults ahead of the working face in U.S. 
coal mines. Optimum field and interpre- 
tive procedures will be established for 
generating and detecting the desired mode 
of signal propagation. The resolution of 
the method under various conditions of 
coal seam geometry and with representa- 
tive target anomalies will be analyzed, 
and recommendations will be made for 
future implementation of the guided wave 
method as a tool for hazard detection 
from underground working faces. 



31. Develop and Demonstrate Untrasonic 
Closure Rate and Roof Fall 
Prediction Device 

Objective ; Develop and field test 
an intrinsically safe, ultrasonic, roof- 
floor closure measuring device which is 
to be nonobstructing for use in haulage- 
ways and other high traffic areas for 
early prediction of roof falls. 

32. Detection of Bad Roof by Resonance 

Objective : Develop a device for 
sensing bad roof and impending roof falls 
during mining based on the dynamic char- 
acteristics of coal measure rocks in the 
presence of geologic anomalies. This 
work will determine the dynamic charac- 
teristics and response of roof rocks to 
external excitation by small amplitude 
impulse and periodic excitation. The 
results will be used as indices of rock 
stability and applied to the design and 
construction of a device to predict the 
structural integrity of the mine roof and 
impending roof falls. 

33. Coal Mine Hazard Detection by 
Acoustic Methods 

Objective ; Develop and test an 
acoustic monitoring system for detecting 
hazardous roof conditions in coal mines. 
The system will be based on available 
instrentation at the Bureau's Twin Cities 
Research Center. 

34. Detection of Coal Mine Roof Fall 
Hazards Utilizing Electromagnetic 
Sensors 

Objective : Evaluate the state- 
of-the-art of low-frequency electromag- 
netics and ground penetrating radar sys- 
tems and develop suitable techniques to 
detect potential roof falls and other 
hazardous conditions in underground coal 
mines, from within the mine. 



15 



35. Field Test of Slope Stability 
Monitoring System 

Objective ; Evaluate, through field 
tests, the capability of the mlcroselsmlc 
slope stability monitoring system that 
has been developed by the Bureau to 
detect and to give advance warning of a 
pit wall failure. 

36. Application of Rock Burst Technology 
and Failure Control Methods 

Objective ; Consolidate the state- 
of-the-art of rock burst detection sys- 
tems, their methods of use, data analysis 
and prediction techniques, and rock burst 
control methods Into a format to be 
transferred to Industry. This format 
will also allow for an up-to-date assess- 
ment of the need for future research. 
New data gathered during this fiscal year 
will also be Incorporated into the final 
format, with special emphasis on the cur- 
rent practice of destresslng for rock 
burst control and its effects on mine 
structure as a whole. 

37. Prediction and Control of Rock 
Bursts and Failures in Mines 

Objective ; This project has three 
objectives: (1) to develop effective and 
reliable methods of predicting rock burst 
and controlling burst prone stopes; (2) 
to apply these methods to a mine with 
burst-prone stopes; and (3) to establish 
criteria and procedures basic to the 
problem of determining mine structure 
stability and how structural instabil- 
ities contribute to mine failures. Data 
obtained from the digital mlcroselsmlc 
system at the Galena Mine, Idaho, will be 
compared with the analog system currently 
employed at the mine, and an effort will 
be made to identify anomalous zones prior 
to bursts and to characterize mlcrosels- 
mlc activities from stressed and de- 
stressed zones. 

38. Develop Fiber Optic Transmission 
System for Seismic Events 

Objective ; Improve the transmission 
of seismic data in electrically noisy 



mediums by eliminating all electrical 
connections between the transducer (seis- 
mometer) and the recording instrument 
and replacing it with fiber optic 
transmission. 

39. Improved Rock Burst Monitoring 

Objective ; Improve rock burst moni- 
toring capabilities as a supportive 
research tool for delineating areas of 
high stress buildup and selecting mining 
methods and procedures that will minimize 
bursting. An improved monitoring system 
for rock burst studies in the Coeur 
d'Alene mining district will be 
acquired. 

Roof Support Systems 

40. Inorganic Grout for Coal Mine Roofs 

Objective ; Develop practical sys- 
tems for installing fully grouted coal 
mine roof bolts with fast-set Inorganic 
cements. Material properties for the 
inorganic £ull-column roof bolt systems 
will be determined, and field tests will 
be conducted on the water microcapsule 
and gypsum cement cartridges in selected 
mines. 

41. Effectiveness of Angle Bolting to 
Support Cutter-Type Roof 

Objective ; Provide the mining 
Industry with an effective method of sup- 
porting cutter-type (shear or snap top) 
roof using angle bolting. 

42. Concrete Crib Design and Field Test 
and Technology Transfer 

Objective ; Complete the field dem- 
onstrations and evaluation of concrete 
cribs started in FY 80 and prepare a 
report on the entire project. Crib load 
and deflection instrumentation and the 
physical appearance of the cribs will be 
monitored and recorded as the longwall 
excavation proceeds past the demonstra- 
tion section. Load and deflection data 
will be compared with the results pre- 
dicted by the computer finite-element 
model prepared during FY 79. The 



16 



structural stability, performance, and 
economics of the concrete crib system 
will be analyzed and compared with those 
of the wood support system it replaces. 

43. Inorganic Grout — Material Study 

Objective : Provide a fundamental 
analysis of hydrocal plaster, quantify 
chemical and mechanical properties of the 
hydrocal-water capsule reaction products, 
and examine the special qualities and 
problems of the hydrocal-water capsule 
system for grouting roof bolts. 

44. Field Evaluation of Existing and 
Innovative Roof Bolt Elements 

Objective : Complete documentation 
of comparative bolt properties for inno- 
vative roof bolts so that these bolting 
systems can be evaluated by comparison to 
standard parameters previously estab- 
lished. Secondly, determine in situ per- 
formance of novel bolting systems through 
in-mine testing. 

45. Polymeric Sealants To Stop Shale 
Degradation 

Objective : Conduct field evalua- 
tions and surveys using polymeric seal- 
ants to prevent shale degradation. A 
water-based polymeric sealant will be 
sprayed in two coal mines with followup 
patching and inspections. Polymeric 
sealants have been sprayed in two active 
mines in association with conr 
tract HO272008, "Weathering Protection at 
the Fact." These four mines will be 
inspected to evaluate effectiveness of 
the material used. 

46. Effects of Bolt Installation 
Procedures on Mine Roof Stability 

Objective : Determine required 
resin-column length for insuring integ- 
rity of resin-grouted bolts, evaluate the 
E & MR ultrasonic stress device for test- 
ing resin-grouted bolts, and complete the 
evaluation of the effects of installation 
procedures on resin-grouted bolts. 



47. Mine Roof Stabilization Using 
Inorganic Chemical Bonding 

Objective : Develop chemical binders 
and methods of application to mine roofs 
to increase the mine roof stability with 
special attention given to potential 
inorganic binders. 

48. Evaluate Support Wall Systems 

Objective : Determine the stability 
characteristics of various pack wall ma- 
terials and pack systems in place. Stan- 
dardized tests required to establish 
materials characteristics will be deter- 
mined, test program guidelines will be 
tested to determine the overall perform- 
ance ranges of a pack, and procedures 
will be established by laboratory and in- 
mine trials to evaluate pack competence. 
Packwalls will be tested at Mid-Continent 
Resources, Inc. 's No. 1 and No. 3 Mines. 
Laboratory tests will be performed at the 
Bureau's Spokane Research Center to 
establish in situ testing capabilities. 
Both laboratory and field test of fill-in 
wood cribs will be conducted. 

49. Mine Support Wall Material Test 

Objective : Determine optimum mine 
support wall materials formulated using 
coal and/or coal waste aggregates. 

50. Steel Support Study 

Objective : Improve the design, han- 
dling, and installation of steel supports 
to insure that supports are used properly 
according to ground conditions and to 
reduce the accidents associated with 
handling by workers. 

51. Coal Mine Roof Deflection Analysis 

Objective : Devise a method of using 
the deformation characteristics of a coal 
mine roof to establish the nature of the 
immediate roof and the type and amount of 
support required to insure safety for 
miners. 



17 



52. Cost-Effective Expendable 
Instrumentation 

Objective ; Develop a handbook on 
instrumentation that will provide guide- 
lines for the selection of the least 
expensive instrumentation capable of per- 
forming to collect the required data, and 
has the potential of reducing the cost of 
research instrumentation by 20 percent. 

53. Inorganic Grouted Rock Bolts 

Objective ; Develop an inorganic 
grout system suitable for the large bolt 
holes commonly drilled in metal and non- 
metal mines. The initial task will be to 
identify reasons for poor anchorage of 
small-diameter bolts grouted in large- 
diameter holes. Pull tests will be made 
with different size rebar grouted in 
holes drilled in concrete blocks with a 
1-3/8-inch drill (commonly used in metal 
and nonmetal mines). 

54. Ground Support Systems — Block Cave 
Mining 

Objective ; Design, test, and imple- 
ment better methods of support for 
grizzly drifts and haulage crosscuts in 
block cave mining; and install, line, and 
backpack a haulage crosscut at the 
Sacaton unit of ASARCO, Inc. 

55. Laboratory Test Program for Long 
Hole Bolting 

Objective ; Laboratory test the 
longhole bolting prototype (tube bolt) 
developed during FY 80-81. 

56. Rock Bolting Prior To Blasting in 
Conventionally Driven Raises 

Objective ; Provide miners with 
temporary roof support while convention- 
ally driving raises. The procedure is to 
drill a hole 4 feet longer than the round 
and then install a 4-1/2-foot resin- 
grouted rock bolt. Following the blast, 
about 6 inches of the bolt remains 
exposed and a "head board" is added by to 
provide support above the miner's work 
place. 



Safe Support Installation 

57. Determination of Decay in Mine 
Timber 

Objective ; Test the timber decay 
system developed under contract H0202009 
to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
instrument to determine the strength loss 
of rotted timber. 

58. Field Test of ATRS for Single Head 
Roof Drill 

Objective ; Provide the mining 
industry with complete information to 
enable fabrication of a tested automated 
temporary roof support (ATRS) for sin- 
gle, fixed-head roof drilling machines 
(squirmers). 

59. Control-Prevention of Ignitions From 
Light Metals Impact 

Objective ; Determine the feasibil- 
ity of alloy modification and/or protec- 
tive coatings on mining equipment made of 
aluminum alloys to prevent or retard 
ignition potential. Determine the causes 
of ignition-inducing reaction arising 
from the rubbing impact of light metals 
and steels. 

60. Underground Testing of the 4M Miner 

Objective ; Evaluate the health, 
safety, and production merits of the min- 
iminer system under normal production 
conditions. An underground demonstration 
of the miniminer system should begin in 
FY81 and continue through the early por- 
tion of FY 82. The data that will be 
collected will be primarily used to vali- 
date the information collected during the 
surface testing of the miniminer system. 

61. Field Test and Modification of 
Lightweight Hydraulic Props 

Objective ; Complete long-term field 
testing of lightweight props and modify, 
if necessary, to improve the safety of 
handling and support functions in various 
seam heights and mining conditions. 



18 



S2. Computer Organization of 
Single-Entry Data 

Objective ; The raw data from the 
coal mine single entry study will be 
reduced, transformed, and published as a 
Report of Investigations. 

63. Preparation of Longwall Support 
Selection Guide 



67. Backfill Material for Tunnel Liners 

Objective : Test and write specifi- 
cations and recommendations for the use 
of backfill material (in conjunction with 
specific linear geometry) that is used to 
insulate tunnel liners from the impact 
loading of roof falls through the absorp- 
tion of energy and redistribution of 
loads. 



Objective ; Prepare for the mining 
Industry a guide for selecting the opti- 
mum longwall support system for a par- 
ticular set of mining conditions, 

64. Retreat Mining Methods — Field Study 

Objective ; Identify changing ground 
conditions during various retreat mining 
operations and provide guidelines for 
uniform safety practices during retreat 
mining by FY 85. Instrumentation will be 
installed at two sites during development 
and retreat mining to monitor stress pat- 
terns and convergence during the various 
mining sequences. Observations and mine 
inquiries will be made along with instru- 
ment monitoring at the test sites to gain 
a better understanding of the ground 
conditions, method of operation, and haz- 
ards associated with retreat pillaring 
operations. 

65. Technology Assessment-Forecasting 
for Ground Control 

Objective ; Examine Health ai\d 
Safety Analysis Center data on falls 
of roof-rib so that conclusions can be 
drawn relating conditions and circum- 
stances contributing to accidents and 
fatalities. 

66. Equipment Evaluation 

Objective ; Develop mechanical, 
hydraulic, and electrical in-house exper- 
tise for in-house research and contract 
monitoring. Develop a laboratory and 
equipment base for further in-house work 
and proper contract monitoring. 



68. Metallurgy Evaluations 

Objective ; In coordination with 
MSHA Technical Support, establish and 
maintain a program at the Bureau's Rolla 
Research Center for metallurgical evalua- 
tion of roof-rock bolts and other steel 
supports. 

69. Corrosion of Metallic Roof Support 
Elements 

Objective ; Develop guidelines to 
aid MSHA and mining personnel in predict- 
ing the life of roof support systems, 
determine detrimental effects of corro- 
sive mine environments on friction rock 
stabilizers (split set) , and help iden- 
tify potential control measures. 

70. Improved Roof Sounding Techniques 

Objective ; Develop a piece of hard- 
ware that can be easily used to determine 
the competency of roof rock in mines. 
This device may either be incorporated in 
a scaling bar or a stand-alone device. 
An initial prototype device is Intended 
by the end of FY 82. 

71. Scaling Technology 

Objective : Develop a safer, more 
effective, and less strenuous means of 
scaling mine roof and ribs by testing, 
analyzing, and modifying, if necessary, 
scaling tools developed from previous 
contracts. 



& 



19 



Mining and Minerals Processing Waste 
Stability 

72. Evaluation of Filter Cloth for 
Stabilization of Coal Mine Waste 

Objective : Provide safer, longer 
lasting dams of coal mine waste materials 
through the use of filter media to con- 
trol seepage. The immediate objective is 
to evaluate criteria for selection of 
filter cloth and test the filters under 
simulated mine waste dam environments. 
Also, evaluate the deterioration of the 
cloths by sunlight and chemicals used in 
coal preparation plants and investigate 
possible unidirectional flow in some fil- 
ter cloths. 

73. Mixing Coarse-Fine Coal Wastes 

Objective : Determine the best mix- 
ing ratios of coarse and fine coal refuse 
to achieve the maximum fill strengths for 
surface disposal. Document disposal 
practices at selected coal preparation 
plants including coal preparation tech- 
niques versus mining techniques, waste 
product amount and sizes, strength char- 
acteristics of consolidated fine refuse, 
moisture contents of consolidated fine 
refuse, and transportation techniques for 
disposal of the refuse. 

74. Disposal of Wastes Over Active 
Underground Mines 

Objective : Develop design and con- 
struction criteria for safe disposal of 
mine waste over active underground mines 
by evaluating geologic features, type of 
mining system used, extraction ratio, and 
pillar design. Peripheral conditions 
such as landslide potential, probable 
safety features such as placing of wastes 
to allow self plugging in the event of 
minor subsidence, and physical properties 
of the different types of mine waste will 
also be evaluated for their Impact on 
underground workings. 



75. Use of Infrared Scanners To Detect 
Water Levels in Waste Embankments 

Objective : Test the use of infrared 
thermography on coal waste embankments to 
determine water levels within the embank- 
ment, and structural integrity. Seasonal 
changes in water levels will be tested 
using an infrared scanner. The results 
will be analyzed and compared with pie- 
zometer readings. 

76. Ground-Aerial Inspection of Surface 
Coal Waste Disposal Sites 

Objective : Coordinate ground sur- 
veys to be performed under companion con- 
tract project inspection procedures and 
write the final report concentrating on 
the effectiveness of aerial photogram- 
metry as a practical tool for mine waste 
disposal site inspection. 

77. Consolidation of Coal-Clay Waste by 
an Improved Flocculatlon Technique 

Objective : Demonstrate the techni- 
cal feasibility of using an improved 
flocculatlon technique to dewater waste 
coal sludge generated in coal preparation 
plants to produce a consolidated, stable 
waste material that can be safely dis- 
posed of. A field test unit will be 
operated at a cooperating coal prepara- 
tion plant at the rate of 300 to 500 gpm. 
The feasibility of mixing dewatered coal 
sludge with coarse coal refuse material 
for long-term stabilization of waste 
products will also be determined. 

78. Field Test of Microseismic 
Monitoring of Waste Dams 

Objective : Apply the Information 
gained by a previous contract, which 
defined the basic characteristics of some 
parameters involved in microseismic moni- 
toring of waste dams under controlled 
conditions, to a field installation and 
actual monitoring conditions. 



20 



79. Analytic Techniques — Waste Disposal- 
Tailings Embankment Design 

Objective : Investigate and develop 
mathematical, statistical, and probabli- 
sltic techniques relative to tailings 
embankment design. Focal areas for FY 82 
include factor of safety risk analysis 
and centrifuge modeling. When appropri- 
ate, perform field studies to verify the- 
oretical assumptions. 

80. Compaction Criteria for Metal- 
Nonmetal Waste 

Objective ; Determine the compaction 
characteristics of metal-nonmetal tail- 
ings. Optimum layer thickness, den- 
sities, and compactive effort will 
be developed on an operating waste 
embankment . 

Industrial-Type Hazards 

Program Objectives ; To (1) limit 
the possibility of htmian error through 
training, and human-machine and human- 
environment interfacing; (2) Improve 
equipment design and controls; (3) detect 
and prevent failures of electric cir- 
cuitry and hardware; (4) provide adequate 
lighting in working areas; (5) Insure 
continuous and reliable communication 
between all underground and surface mine 
personnel, while providing continuous 
surveillance of the mine environment; and 
(6) improve safety in haulage and 
materials-handling operations. 

Human Factors 



1. Human Factors and Industrial Safety 
(Education and Training) 

Objective ; In-house efforts in 
FY 82 will serve to coordinate a diverse 
mixture of current research projects 
according to well-defined short- and 
long-term research objectives. These 
objectives include development of per- 
formance criteria, instructional strat- 
egies, and evaluational methods for 
mine health, safety, and occupational 



training; application of current learning 
technology to investigate the potential 
of utilizing training equipment to en- 
hance and economize classroom and on- 
the-job training. 

2. Human Factors and Industrial Safety 
(Ergonomics) 

Objective ; When mining accidents 
are thoroughly Investigated, it is often 
found that "human error" or management 
oversight is the primary contributing 
factor. Some mining authorities maintain 
that perhaps 80 percent of all accidents 
and injuries are the results of human 
error. This explanation alone offers 
little opportunity for application of 
appropriate countermeasures. If human 
error type accidents are to be signifi- 
cantly reduced, the work environment, 
Including machines, must be designed in a 
manner that permits the fewest possible 
errors to occur. Secondary to appropri- 
ate workplace design is adequate training 
of miners and management. This in-house 
effort Involves tasks which are oriented 
toward either solving specific hviman fac- 
tor problems in the mining Industry or 
supporting a broad range of efforts 
directed toward reducing mining accident 
and injuries associated with human 
error. 

3. Surface Mine Training 

Objective ; Develop information and 
strategies to aid mining companies in 
administering and monitoring their ef- 
forts to improve safety training effec- 
tiveness in mining and mineral processing 
operations. 

4. Feasibility Study on the Use of 
Visual Skills Training in Hazard 
Recognition for Underground Mines 

Objective ; To investigate the po- 
tential for training new miners utilizing 
various simulation techniques to develop 
visual search and discrimination skills 
for recognizing dangerous and safe roof 
and rib connections. 



21 



5. Computerized Index of Available 
Training Material 

Objective : To develop a computer- 
ized index of training material and aids 
available from the Bureau of Mines, U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE), MSHA, State 
and local agencies, companies, uions, 
safety trade associations, and academic 
institutions. The index will be made 
readily accessible through terminals 
at MSHA training centers and other 
locations. 

Electrical 

6. Intrinsic Safety 

Objective ; To investigate research 
problems related to a basic understanding 
of intrinsic safety, supply technical 
support to Bureau contractors and re- 
searchers and to work with national and 
international committees in developing 
recommendations and standards for using 
electrical equipment in potentially 
explosive atmospheres; and to improve the 
quality of Bureau equipment and personnel 
training. 

7. Acceptance Criteria for Nonejectable 
Cap Lamp Bulb 

Objective ; To develop an acceptance 
guideline (including test methodology and 
failure criteria) for nonejectable cap 
lamps. 



tasks in the field of mine electrical 
systems and devices, and to pursue in- 
house basic research for the general 
improvement of metal and nonmetal mine 
electrical safety. 

10. Handbook for Electrical Grounding 
Safety for Small Pits and Quarries 

Objective ; Produce a handbook for 
field use, "A Practical Field Guide for 
Metal and Nonmetal Mining Electrical 
Grounding Safety for Small Pits and 
Quarries." 

Equipment 

11. Development of Technology To Reduce 
Equipment-Related Accidents 

Objective : To define future 
equipment-related research needs and to 
advance the level of health and safety 
technology in a variety of equipment 
areas that have already been identified 
as accident problems. This objective 
will be achieved by conducting a cohesive 
research program balanced between the 
optimization of current mining equipment 
design for improved safety in the short- 
term and the identification and develop- 
ment of innovative underground mining 
technology that will eventually eliminate 
the presence of miners in the hazardous 
face area. 

12. Surface Mine Equipment Safety 



8. Explosion-proof Enclosures 

Objective ; (1) To determine minimum 
safe electrical clearances between unin- 
sulated live conductors used in 
explosion-proof enclosures for voltages 
greater than 2,000 volts. (2) To inves- 
tigate the mechanisms by which high-power 
arcs affect internal pressures in potted 
explosion-proof enclosures. 

9. Electrical Equipment, Devices, and 
Systems 

Objective ; To conduct preliminary 
investigation and final evaluations rela- 
tive to contracted research and design 



Objective ; Develop and in-mine test 
mine vehicle safety hardware in the areas 
of operator ingress-egress systems, 
driver alertness, and vehicle retrieval. 

13. Participation on the Society of 
Automative Engineer Technical 
Committee on Mining Equipment 
(SAE Subcommittee 29) 

Objective ; Develop standards that 
cover requirements for safeguarding life 
and property on underground and surface 
coal, metal, and nonmetal mining 
equipment. 



22 



14. Operator Protection for Surface 
Mining Equipment 

Objective ; To test operator accep- 
tance of improved seat belt systems for 
mobile surface mining equipment, and to 
develop novel methods of operator protec- 
tion. Also, evaluate the state-of-the 
art of fire-resistant fluids' performance 
and equipment compatibility in coal min- 
ing equipment through Industry contacts. 

15. Processing Plant Equipment Safety 

Objective : To investigate the 
application of safety technology to re- 
duce equipment hazards at processing 
plants. 

16. Assessment of the Role of Mining 
Equipment Rebuild Shops in the 
Bureau of Mines Technology 



Objective : To study, evaluate, and 
optimize the role of equipment rebuild 
shops in transferring the results of 
Bureau research into industry practice. 
The initial pilot effort, to be accom- 
plished this year, will culminate with 
the preparation of a directory of under- 
ground coal mining equipment rebuild 
shops located in Pennsylvania that iden- 
tifies the range of services and capa- 
bilities available. 



considerable reduction in airborne dust 
loads from conventional mining can be 
achieved with this method of kerf cut- 
ting. By reconditioning this machine, an 
evaluation of its safety and functional 
operating characteristics can be made at 
the surface test facility using artifi- 
cial coal blocks. 

18. Characterization of Material 
Failures in ROPS 

Objective : Define and characterize 
the service life of rollover protective 
structures (ROPS) on large surface mining 
equipment. 

19. Machinery Maintenance Related 
Accidents 

Objective : Based on an investiga- 
tion of machinery maintenance related 
accidents, develop concepts for Improved 
maintenance tools and procedures. 

20. Collision Protection 

Objective : Develop, laboratory 
test, and In-mine on-vehlcle test proto- 
type hardware that reduces the vehicle 
collision hazards in surface mines. Work 
will involve low profile, fresnel lens, 
blind area viewers, improved truck mir- 
rors, and close-in hazard detection 
devices. 



17, Modification and Demonstration of 
an Improved Circular Kerf Cutting 
Machine 



Illumination 



21. Illumination Research 



Objective : To improve and demon- 
strate the potential benefits of a novel 
kerf cutting machine that had been devel- 
oped under a previous Bureau project. 
This machine bores a large round hole in 
the center of the coal face in conven- 
tional mines. The explosive charges 
cause the coal to expand and fracture 
inward instead of downward, thus causing 
a completely different dust and lumping 
characteristic. The machine had been 
built, but was never fully debugged and 
demonstrated. It is believed that a 



Objective ; (1) Evaluate specialized 
power supplies and lighting hardware for 
diesel-powered surface mining machinery. 
(2) Maintain and update the machine- 
mounted permissible illumination systems 
in use in the Bruceton Experimental Coal 
Mine. (3) Investigate the illumination 
of surface mining equipment. (4) Inves- 
tigate the feasibility of flexible light- 
ing systems that are radio frequency 
excited. (5) Provide technical assis- 
tance to MSHA and the mining industry. 



23 



Communication-Monitoring 

22. Performance Standards and Systems 
Approach to Mine Monitoring 

Objective ; To conduct preliminary 
Investigations, maintain a base of knowl- 
edge, and provide support for the mine 
monitoring program. Individual problems 
in the area of mine monitoring will be 
investigated by in-house expertise, par- 
ticularly those discovered through con- 
tact with MSHA personnel and those that 
become evident as newly developed moni- 
toring systems are field tested. Areas 
of study are systems performance evalu- 
ation, developing performance standards, 
and security of data transmission. 

23. Underground Communication Systems 

Objective ; To continue basic and 

applied research in the areas of hardwire 

and wireless radio systems for under- 
ground mines. 

24. Mine Telemetry and Environmental 
Surveillance System-Coal 

Objective ; To design, procure, lab- 
oratory test, and in-mine evaluate mine 
monitoring systems in candidate coal 
mines; and to develop an intrinsically 
safe monitoring system specifically to 
support in-mine demonstration project 
currently ongoing. 

25. Mine Telemetry and Environmental 
Surveillance System — Metal-Nonmetal 
Mines 

Objective ; To support mine monitor- 
ing systems that are Installed in candi- 
date metal-nonmetal mines. Specifically 
to evaluate, maintain, and Improve as 
necessary by the mine monitoring system 
Installed in the Black River Mine. 

Haulage Material Handling 

26. Materials Handling Equipment 
Development 



can be made safer and less labor inten- 
sive. Project areas Include the handling 
of supplies and machine components and 
emergency braking devices for tracked 
vehicles on slopes. In addition, there 
is an ongoing effort involving statisti- 
cal analysis of accident data in support 
of contractual efforts in this area. 

27. Operation of the Wire Rope Test 
Facility 

Objective ; To define the character- 
istics of wire rope and its uses that 
affect the life of mine hoist and haulage 
rope. To perform detailed analyses and 
testing of new and retired ropes and 
monitor field use. To relate the results 
to manufacturing procedures, rope con- 
struction, or in-service procedures to 
improve the performance and safety of 
wire rope used in mining. 

28. Laboratory Analysis of Wire Rope 

Objective ; To define physical and 
chemical characteristics of wire rope 
that affect rope degradation in mine 
hoisting, and to define mechanisms of 
hoist rope deterioration that result in 
rope removal from service. Data will be 
assembled and used to determine the most 
important modes of degradation, and the 
ability of current inspection techniques 
to detect both the degradation and to 
evaluate the remaining rope strength and 
fatigue life. The information will be 
used to recommend improvements to the 
regulations and to plan future research. 

29. Pneumatic Transport Safety Designs 

Objective ; To assess the safety 
liabilities and assets of pneumatically 
transporting coal both horizontally and 
vertically, to compare these results with 
the safety of conventional methods of 
underground coal haulage such as shuttle 
cars and skip haulage, and to report the 
results in both an Information Circular 
and industry publications. 



Objective ; Investigate methods by 
which mine materials handling activities 



24 



30. Conveyor Safety 

Objective : To support development 
of a conveyor safety program by conduct- 
ing background investigations of poten- 
tial research areas and promoting tech- 
nology transfer of completed projects by 
preparing journal articles, Information 
Circulars, making presentations at 
industry conferences, etc. 

31. Analysis of Materials Handling 
Accidents in Underground Mining 

Objective ; To collect and analyze 
available data on materials handling 
accidents. This program will be based 
upon accident data obtained from MSHA, 
industry, and foreign files; risk mea- 
surements of the data; discussions with 
coal operators and workers, safety asso- 
ciations, MSHA personnel, mining and 
safety equipment manufacturer; and stud- 
ies of actual materials handling opera- 
tions in the field. 



of a mine disaster to escape from the 
mine or to continue to survive while 
awaiting rescue by providing protection 
against toxic and/or oxygen-deficient 
atmospheres; (2) aid in the location of 
miners trapped underground, using seismic 
and electromagnetic means of communica- 
tion; and (3) facilitate postdlsaster 
rescue and recovery operations through 
surface monitoring of conditions under- 
ground, emergency communications, and 
mechanized transport and life-support 
equipment for mine reentry and rescue 
operations. 

Survival 

1. Human, Machine, and Environmental 
Tests of Breathing Apparatus 

Objective ; To Improve breathing 
apparatus by testing prototype and com- 
mercial breathing apparatus and reporting 
results and recommendations of evalua- 
tions to manufacturers. 



32. Analysis of Equipment, Haulage, and 
Material Handling Accidents in the 
Mining Industry 

Objective ; In cooperation with the 
Bureau's Spokane and Pittsburgh Research 
Centers, investigate the causes of equip- 
ment, haulage, and materials handling 
related accidents to provide a sound 
foundation on which to base a cohesive, 
coordinated Industrial hazard safety 
research program. 

33. Operational and Maintenance Safety 
Analysis of Large Mine-Run Rock 
Conveyor 



2. Advanced First Aid, Health, and 
Fitness Studies 

Objective ; To conduct studies in 
the needs and application of advanced 
first aid, health, and fitness topics to 
improve life support and survival of 
miners. 

3. Advanced Breathing Apparatus Design 

Objective ; To study needs and per- 
form research and development of novel 
breathing apparatus designs and compon- 
ents, and effect or stimulate long-term 
improvement in apparatus design. 



Objective ; To evaluate the safety 
of the large rock conveyor system, both 
operational and maintenance safety; out- 
line areas of design and operational 
changes to promote maximum safety; and 
determine areas where additional research 
is needed. 

Postdlsaster 

Program Objectives ; To develop 
technology that will (1) enable survivors 



Communications 

4. Trapped Miner Location and 
Communication 

Objective ; To develop emergency 
detection and location systems for post- 
disaster rescue efforts, evaluate hard- 
ware for these rescue efforts, and pro- 
vide technical assistance to contractors 
conducting field test programs. 



25 



5. Short Range Locator 

Objective ; To develop and demon- 
strate a system to quickly and accurately 
locate trapped miners underground to 
enhance their chances of survival in 
postmining disasters. 

6. Development of Trapped Miner Location 
System Using Phase Difference of 
Arrival Techniques 

Objective ; Determine the feasibil- 
ity of using "phase difference of arrival 
concepts" (PDOAC) to develop an elec- 
tronic system for locating trapped 
miners. 

Rescue and Mine Recovery 

7. Improved Rescue Technology and 
Personal Protective Equipment for 
Mine Rescue 

Objective ; To study the needs of 
the mining industry and propose applica- 
tions of new or existing rescue tech- 
nology to meet those needs and to stimu- 
late research and development of personal 
protection equipment for mine rescue. 

Explosives 

Program Objectives ; To assess the 
problems associated with the safe and 
effective use of explosives in all types 
of mining activity including fixed explo- 
sives, blasting agents, blasting devices, 
and blasting accessories. To conduct 
fundamental studies of explosive behavior 
and apply the results in the development 
of new technology. To develop new and 
improved test procedures as new types of 
explosives are formulated. 

Explosives and Blasting 

1. Development of Guidelines and 

Supporting Tests for Standards and 
Enforcement 

Objective ; (1) To provide support- 
ing research for accident investigations 
and on potentially hazardous situations 
or products, or practices identified by 



MSHA, (2) to recommend guidelines based 
on research for the development-revision 
or enforcement of safety standards in the 
areas identified. 

2. Determination of Permissibility 
Requirements for Blasting in Noncoal 
Mines 

Objective ; To develop information 
based on experiments to be used for the 
development of guidelines and standards 
for nonincendive explosives and blasting 
agents and permissible blasting practices 
in oil, oil shale, and other noncoal 
mines having a potential gas or dust 
explosion hazard. 

3. Methods of Reducing Accidents Caused 
by Misfires 

Objective ; To examine factors 
associated with accidents caused by mis- 
fires. These factors would include 
causes of misfires, methods of detection, 
and techniques for disposing of misfires. 
Recommendations will be made for prevent- 
ing misfire accidents. 

4. Development of Improved Blasting 
Machine Tester 

Objective ; To develop a blasting 
machine tester that. In addition to the 
capabilities of currently available 
testers, can detect energy losses through 
parallel resistance faults, stray poten- 
tials on the blasting machine case, and 
determine the adequacy of the energy out- 
put relative to the energy requirements 
of the blasting circuit. When the nvmiber 
of detonators per series, the number of 
series in parallel, the energy require- 
ment per detonator, with compensation for 
lead resistance are "dialed in," the 
tester will determine whether the blast- 
ing machine can reliably fire the partic- 
ular circuit. 

5. Hazards of Explosives and Explosive 
Devices 

Objective ; To provide MSHA and the 
mining industry with information, guide- 
lines, and/or recommendations in the area 



26 



of sensitivity, reactivity, energy 
release, and reliability of blasting 
materials subjected to various normal or 
abnormal mechanical, electrical, and 
thermal stimuli, as well as evaluations 
of blasting accessories in connection 
with MSHA accident investigations or 
development and/or revision of safety 
relative to these materials and their 
use. Development and/or updating of 
tests and procedures is also an important 
part of the objective. 

6. Permissible Explosives — ^Evaluation 
and Research 



9. Development of New Schedule Tests 
and Standards 

Objective ; Update current and 
develop new schedules and standards as 
needs arise for permissible explosives 
and related articles, recommend changes 
to MSHA for the purpose of providing 
safer and more effective explosives and 
devices, extend basic knowledge by inves- 
tigating mechanisms involved in and 
associated with incendivity and perfor- 
mance of explosives, including the United 
Kingdom and West German ultrasafe 
explosives. 



Objective : Continue evaluating ex- 
plosives and explosive devices for under- 
ground coal mine use, as required by law, 
monitor of field samples for conformance 
with their basic specifications, perform 
the necessary research to improve the 
safety and performance of coal mine 
explosives, including water gel and water 
emulsion permissibles, examine all explo- 
sives reportedly involved in accidents or 
incidents, and report findings to MSHA. 

7. Fire Hazards of Explosives and 
Blasting Agents 

Objective : To complete all develop- 
ment, optimization of parameters, and 
gathering of supporting data in connec- 
tion with Bureau efforts to develop 
laboratory-scale size thermal tests 
designed for use in making assessments 
for minimizing fire hazards of explosive's 
and blasting agents in storage or transit 
at mine sites. 

8. Improvement of Nonincendive Explosive 
Charge for Unconfined Shooting 

Objective : To reduce the weight and 
profile of the nonincendive charge pre- 
viously developed, research the effects 
of the shape and packaging of the explo- 
sive charge on rock-breaking efficiency, 
improve understanding of the mechanism by 
which the flame inhibiting material 
operates. 



10. Basic Research on Initiation and 
Propagation of Detonation 

Objective : To formulate explosive 
criteria that reflects the interrela- 
tionship of explosive characteristics, 
explosive states, stimulation mechanisms, 
and reaction modes of mining explosives 
which are characterized as water-gels or 
gelatinous. 

11. Analysis of Coal Mining Blasting 
Accidents 



Objective : This project will ana- 
lyze coal mine blasting accidents to 
insure that the Bureau research effort is 
directed toward the real causes of blast- 
ing accidents and includes a minor effort 
devoted to analysis of metal and nonmetal 
mine accidents. 

Systems Engineering 

Program Objectives : To develop 
methods for evaluating the impact of 
specific technological improvements or 
inadequacies on the total mining and min- 
erals processing operations and identi- 
fying problems whose solutions would pro- 
vide the greatest health and safety 
benefit. To operate and maintain under- 
ground research and test facilities for 
use in testing and demonstrating new pro- 
cedures and equipment before they are 
tested in commercial mines. 






r Syst 



Systems Analysis 

1. Hazard Analysis of Underground 
Mining — Methane, Roof Falls, 
and Fires 

Objective ; Develop recommendations 
for new technology or modifications of 
current technology to reduce the roof 
fall hazard to personnel making methane 
measurements at the coal face. Identify 
and analyze major fire problem areas in 
gassy noncoal mines. Quantify equipment 
operational parameters in surface and 
underground mines and specify component 
performance requirements to assure reli- 
able operation of safety systems. 

2. Application of Mine Safety Hardware 

Objective ; Identify significant 
applications of mine safety hardware 
developments. Determine the cost- 
effectiveness of specific mine safety 
hardware developments. Demonstrate the 
effectiveness of safety devices through 
in-mine tests. 

3. Information Retrieval System for 
Costs of Mine Accidents and 
Application 

Objective ; The ultimate goal is to 
provide information to management and 
researchers for making decisions. The 
objectives of this proposal are to (1) 
convert the 1979 and 1980 Health and 
Safety Analysis Center (HSAC) accident 
statistics into cost statistics; (2) 
identify these data; (3) simplify run 
procedures on 1979 and 1980 HSAC accident 
statistics so any interested person may 
conduct the online retrieval and analy- 
sis; (4) conduct correlation statistics 
among various accident statistic and mine 
characteristics, that is seam height; (5) 
identify useful information that can be 
obtained from the data and methodologies 
apply the technique to real situations. 



27 



and extract information from the mine 
accident data bases by applying the lat- 
est statistical techniques designed for 
categorical data (a characteristic of 
some of the mine accident data) . 

4. Statistical Accident Analysis and 
Literature Search 

Objective ; The objectives are to 
formulate a method for measuring risk 
(safety) of mining operations; to derive 
risk values using HSAC accident data and 
foreign data; to use these risk values to 
rank the hazards of different mining 
activities; and, through literature 
searches, to summarize past research, 
identify past and current trends, and aid 
in planning future research projects. 

5. Analysis of Mining Systems 

Objective ; To examine, select, 
process, and package pertinent research 
results related to coal mine health and 
safety involving methane control and 
method for prediction of roof instabili- 
ties to effectively integrate them into 
the total mining system. To identify 
technology gaps in research. 

Test Facilities 

6. Operation of Underground Test 
Facilities 

Objective ; The objective is to 
operate the two experimental mine facili- 
ties located at Bruceton for the purpose 
of supporting ongoing research and devel- 
opment projects. Examples of project 
activities scheduled for work in the mine 
facilities include construction and test- 
ing of explosion-proof bulkheads, trickle 
duster testing in return air courses, 
coal and oil shale fire tests, reduction 
of respirable dust generation by coal 
cutting equipment, and ground control 
instrumentation tests. 



28 



7. Operation of Lake Lynn Laboratory 

Objective : To operate the Lake 
Lynn Laboratory in support of ongoing 
Bureau of Mines programs. Examples of 
programs to be pursued Include testing 
new types of explosion barriers or 



ignition-suppression devices, diagnosis 
and abatement of methane roof layers, 
minimum initiation conditions for dust 
explosion, and explosion and hydrostatic 
testing of candidate explosion-proof 
bulkheads and water seals. 



PART 1 1. —CONTRACT RESEARCH 



Health 



Respirable Dust 

Program Objectives : To develop pro- 
cedures for controlling the respirable 
mine dusts that still constitute the 
severest health problem facing the mining 
and minerals processing industries. To 
develop and/or improve techniques and 
equipment to prevent formation of hazard- 
ous dust concentrations and to protect 
miners against dusty atmospheres. 

Control of Dust Formation 

1. Instrumented In-Mine Testing of the 
Bureau of Mines Low-RPM, Deep-Cutting 
Continuous-Mining Machine 



3. In-Seam Tester for Underground Coal 
Mines 

Objective : To develop and demon- 
strate a portable, quick, in-seam tester 
for determining drum-bit forces required 
to excavate coal from the face of an 
underground coal mine heading and to 
establish correlation of cutting forces 
between an instrumented miner and the in- 
seam tester. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

Control of Generated Dust 

4. Evaluate Longwall Dust Sources and 
Control Technology 



Objective ; To determine specific 
forces and their magnitude encountered 
during mining of coal with an instru- 
mented, deep-cutting, continuous-mining 
machine. This information shall be made 
available to the mining equipment indus- 
try to design and construct production 
versions of the low-rpm, deep-cutting 
continuous-mining machine. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

2. Effects of Continuous-Mining Machine 
Operator Variables on Dust Generation 
During Coal Cutting 

Objective : To define operator vari- 
ables and determine the effect of con- 
trollable operator variables on primary 
dust generation during coal cutting with 
continuous-mining machines. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 



Objective : To define and quantify 
the relative contribution to the overall 
dust exposure of each of the major dust- 
producing elements and processes asso- 
ciated with longwall mining. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

5. Conveyor Belt Dust Control 

Objective : To reduce the occurrence 
of respirable dust at conveyor belt load- 
ing, dumping, and transfer points by 
cost-effective dust control systems. The 
effort shall consist of data collection 
and analysis, design and fabrication of a 
dust control system, laboratory evalu- 
ation, and in-mine testing and demon- 
stration. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



29 



6 . Imp roved Canopy Air Curtain 



10. Evaluation of Charged Water Sprays 



Objective ; To develop an Improved 
canopy air curtain system for mining use, 
and to Investigate the feasibility and 
develop a method and hardware that will 
remove gaseous contaminants In addition 
to particulates from the mine air that 
will be delivered by the canopy air cur- 
tain. Specifically, to Investigate the 
feasibility and design of an alr- 
purlflcatlon module for use on canopy air 
curtains used on dlesellzed equipment In 
underground mines. This Is a continua- 
tion of an ongoing effort. 

7. Mine Demonstrations of Longwall Dust 
Control Techniques 

Objective ; To evaluate the effec- 
tiveness of available dust control tech- 
nology for double-driam shearer longwall 
sections In a coordinated, systematic 
program at several longwall test sec- 
tions, and to make the results available 
to the entire coal mining Industry. 
These demonstrations should guide the 
coal mining Industry toward the best 
available technology to control resplr- 
able dust with the least adverse Impact 
on coal production. This Is a continua- 
tion of an ongoing effort. 

8. Optimizing Water Sprays for Dust 
Control on Longwall Shearer Faces 



Objective ; To determine and verify 
the feasibility of using electrically 
charged water sprays and mists for the 
control of resplrable dust In underground 
nongassy mines. This Is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 

11. Design, Develop, and Demonstrate the 
Use of Hollow and Wet Cutter Bars 

Objective ; To design, develop, and 
demonstrate a hollow cutter bar used In 
conjunction with a machine-mounted dust 
collection system, and to assess the cur- 
rent effectiveness and optimization of 
wet bar dust control techniques. This Is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

12. Bag Machine Dust Controls and Bag 
Sealing 

Objective ; To design and demon- 
strate an effective bagging machine modi- 
fication to reduce the liberation of dust 
as the bag fills and leaves the machine. 
To further alleviate the dust problem, a 
positive bag seal Is also to be designed 
and demonstrated. Special emphasis Is 
planned on controlling dust in silica 
flour mills. This Is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

13. Dry Dust Collector 



Objective ; To test and evaluate 
water spray systems on longwall faces. 
To compare an optimized water-spray sys- 
tem with a conventional system formerly 
in use at a full-scale model longwall 
face. The optimized system shall be 
tested in at least five mines. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

9. Shearer-Mounted Dust Collector 

Objective ; To continue to evaluate 
the effectiveness of water-powered spot 
scrubbers for use on lonwall mining oper- 
ations. To optimize its performance and 
location and conduct underground tests of 
the Improved spot scrubber design. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 



Objective ; To design, fabricate, 
and demonstrate a small, safe, simple, 
and rugged dry collector that would be 
suitable for face (Including machine 
mounting), belt transfer, and other min- 
ing applications. Evaluate the collector 
at several mining and mineral processing 
operations to include a silica mineral 
processing mill and Incorporate any 
design changes to enhance the performance 
and application of the collector. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

14. Bag Cleaning and Broken Bag Disposal 

Objective ; To develop techniques 
and equipment to (1) remove or control 
dust on the exterior of filled bags; 



30 



(2) compress bags to remove internally 
trapped air; and (3) detect and dispose 
of broken bags on conveyor circuit at 
silica processing mill operations. This 
is a new RFP. 



Control of Radiation Hazards 

1. Design, Build, and Test an Air- 
Cleaning System for Working 
Level Control in Uranium Mines 



Dust Instrumentation and Measurement 

15. Field Prototype Light-Scattering, 
Machine-Mounted Respirable 

Dust Monitor 

Objective : To develop, fabricate, 
and test a reliable device that can be 
mounted in the vicinity of a mining- 
machine operator that will give the oper- 
ator a visual signal of the immediate 
environmental dust level. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

16. Personal Dust Exposure Monitor — 
Light Scattering 

Objective ; To develop a reliable, 
sufficiently accurate personal exposure 
monitor for respirable coal mine dusts. 
The device shall provide the wearer with 
a warning when corrective actions are 
necessary. It shall be of suitable size, 
weight, and accuracy so that it can 
replace the personal dust sampler. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

17. Respirable Dust Measurement 
Research, Development, and 
Evaluation 

Objective ; To conduct a laboratory 
evaluation of selected dust measurement 
instruments, both prototype and those 
commercially available, to determine pre- 
cision and accuracy for representative 
mine aerosols, and to develop calibration 
procedures for each instrument. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Radiation Hazards 

Program Objective s; To develop and 
provide new and improved radiation 
instrumentation, measurement, and control 
technology for protection of miners from 
exposure to radon and radon daughters and 
other nuclear radiation hazards in ura- 
nium and other mines. 



Objective ; To design, build, and 
test a combined fan and air-cleaning unit 
for working level control and suitable 
for ventilating a small work place in a 
uranium mine. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

2. Cost Survey for Radon Daughter 
Control by Ventilation and Other 
Control Techniques 

Objective ; To determine the effec- 
tiveness and costs of using dilution con- 
trol and other methods to meet the exist- 
ing 4WLM annual exposure standard, and to 
project the costs and effectiveness of 
all those control methods in meeting 
annual exposure standards of 2.0, 1.0, 
and 0.5 WLM as well as radon-radon daugh- 
ter mine discharge quantities. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Radiation Instrumentation and Measurement 

3. Passive Nuclear Track Dosimeter 

Objective ; To continue modifica- 
tions of existing dosimeter design to 
reflect improvements suggested by in-mine 
tests. To investigate new designs and 
concepts to reduce maintenance and con- 
tamination of external detector in active 
mine environments. To conduct verifica- 
tion testing in the laboratory and in the 
Twilight Mine and active mines. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Noise Control 

Program Objectives ; To identify 
noise sources in underground and surface 
mines and in related mineral processing 
surface facilities, to abate these noise 
sources through both field retrofit and 
factory redesign approaches so that the 
mining operations and minerals processing 
activities meet the Federal noise expo- 
sure standards, to provide more accurate 
measurement of the noise environment, and 



31 



to provide industry with the technical 
knowledge necessary to select, design, 
and implement noise control measures. 

1, Noise Study of Longwall Mining 
Systems 

Objective ; To develop quieter long- 
wall mining equipment. The noise prob- 
lems of longwall systems shall be identi- 
fied, and feasible engineering controls 
that achieve quieter operation without 
affecting production shall be assessed 
and demonstrated. It is anticipated that 
the demonstration phase will involve a 
cooperative effort with a longwall equip- 
ment manufacturer. The identification 
and assessment phases were completed in 
FY 81. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

2. Current Levels of Whole-Body 
Vibrations in Mines 



implemented and comparing the cost effec- 
tiveness of these controls with admini- 
strative controls. This is a continua- 
tion of an ongoing effort. 

4. Retrofit of Underground Load-Haul- 
Dump Machines With Noise Control 
Packages 

Objective ; To develop retrofit 
noise control technology for specific 
models of load-haul-dump (LHD) machines. 
Noise control techniques shall be imple- 
mented and in-mine tested. Participation 
of the contractor with equipment manufac- 
turers and mine operators is considered 
essential in conducting this contract. 
This contract is a continuation of 
ongoing efforts to quiet LHD's through 
retrofit means. 

5. Noise Control of Rubber-Tired Front 
End Loader Used in Surface Mines 



Objective ; To determine and assess 
the present levels of mine personnel 
exposure to whole-body vibrations and to 
compare these levels with the results of 
a medical literature search relating 
vibration parameters to physiological 
effects. This study represents the ini- 
tial background effort in the possible 
establishment of a program in this area. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

3. Abatement of Taconite Plant Noise 
Sources 

Objective ; To develop and demon- 
strate practical engineering noise con- 
trols for equipment used in taconite 
plants. Prior work in this area deter- 
mined the noise sources in taconite 
plants and concentrated on secondary 
crushers. This effort shall be aimed at 
quieting screens, rodmills, autogenous 
and semiautogenous mills, pneumatic rap- 
pers, and vacuum disk filters. Solutions 
developed were implemented in selected 
plants and evaluated to assess acoustic 
effectiveness, durability, and costs. A 
report will be published detailing 
the engineering controls that were 



Objective ; To provide a series of 
workshops intended to assist mining per- 
sonnel in selection, fabricating, and 
installing retrofit noise control treat- 
ments on front end loaders. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

6. Development of a Prototype Hand-Held 
Rock Drill for Use in Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines 

Objective ; To develop a reduced- 
noise hard rock drill for use in the 
metal and nonmetal mining industry. The 
basic technology that was successful in 
the development of a quieter coal mine 
pneumatic stoper drill shall be applied. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

7. Predicting Nonmetallic Screen Deck 
Performance 

Objective ; To conduct an extensive 
screen deck testing program to develop 
performance information and a computer 
model for the screening perfonnance of 
nonmetallic decks. This is a continua- 
tion of an ongoing effort. 



32 



8. Environmental Testing of Personal 
Audio Dosimeter 

Objective : To environmentally test 
the reliability and overall performance 
of commercially available personal audio 
dosimeters. Commercially available do- 
simeters will be environmentally tested 
under various conditions of temperature, 
humidity, etc. , to determine their dura- 
bility and reliability in a mining envir- 
onment. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



The intent of this project is to take an 
integrated approach to noise controlling 
a continuous miner. Noise control tech- 
nology that will be developed for the 
cutting head will be incorporated with 
previously developed chain conveyor con- 
trols and other noise controls into a 
test bed piece of equipment. The tech- 
nology will be validated by underground 
testing. 

12. Development of Prototype Production 
Noise Controlled Jumbo Drills 



9. Assessment of the Accuracy of 
Measurement of Dose by Various 
Instruments in Differing Noise 
Environments Found in Mining 

Objective ; To assess the accuracy 
with which dosimeters, sound level met- 
ers, and other devices measure dose under 
conditions of continuous, fluctuating, 
intermittent, impulse, and impact noise 
exposures similar to those found in the 
mining industry. Information gained in 
this study will provide a basis for com- 
paring the various methods of dose mea- 
surement and point out limitiations and 
other factors to consider when using a 
particular instrument under various noise 
conditions found in the mining industry. 
This is a new RFP. 

10. Noise Control Guidelines for the 
Coal Mining Industry — Handbook 



Objective ; To develop a cost- 
effective, manufacturable, quiet jumbo- 
mounted drill through redesign. A pre- 
production prototype jumbo drill is to be 
designed, fabricated, and field tested. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

Industrial Hygiene (Toxic Substances) 

Program Objectives ; To identify and 
control health hazards in surface and 
underground mines and mineral processing 
plants caused by toxic and/or noxious 
gases and fumes, and certain particulates 
produced by explosives, combustible 
materials, and diesel engines. To devel- 
op and evaluate new instrumentation, 
methods , and procedures for monitoring 
these substances. To analyze alternative 
power sources that may have health 
advantages over existing mine diesels. 



Objective ; To develop a noise con- 
trol handbook for the coal mining indus- 
try. A handbook is being developed that 
will provide the mining industry with 
noise control guidelines for mining 
machines as well as the information nec- 
essary for selection, design, and imple- 
mentation of appropriate control tech- 
niques. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

11. Integrated Approach to Noise 

Control for a Continuous Miner 

Objective ; To develop and field 
test a noise controlled continuous miner. 



Toxic Gases and Materials 



1. Determination of the Products of 
the Oxidative Thermal Degradation 
of Mine Materials 



Objective ; To determine the iden- 
tity and quantity of gas, fume, and smoke 
products generated during the stages of 
oxidative heating of materials used in 
mining. Preignition heating, pyrolysis 
devolatilization, flaming and glowing 
combustion, and extinguishment are being 
investigated. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 



33 



2. Toxic Fumes From Explosives Tests 
in Underground Mines 

Objective ; To determine the pres- 
ence of trace toxic products such as 
nitrosamines and others that may be pres- 
ent along with the expected products CO, 
CO2 , NOj( , SO2 , and NH3 in the fumes from 
explosives fired at the working face in a 
mine. Results will be used to character- 
ize the transient nature of fumes gener- 
ated during blasting, and to compare 
these in-mine results with results 
obtained by laboratory test methods. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

3. Monitoring of Mine Air Pollutants 

Objective ; To develop and test 
engineering approaches for the control of 
mine air quality. To characterize 
exhaust gas distributions in various ven- 
tilation configurations in deadend 
drifts. To evaluate exhaust control 
hardware in simulated and real condi- 
tions. To investigate methods to iden- 
tify diesel soot on respirable dust fil- 
ters. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort which involves participa- 
tion of a cooperating mine. 

4. Technique for Determining Efficiency 
of Sorbents in Diffusion-Type 
Samplers 

Objective ; To investigate the feas- 
ibility for determining both the effi- 
ciency and capacity of diffusion type 
passive samplers for contaminant gases, 
and to apply techniques developed to 
assess mine air quality when diesel- 
powered equipment is being used. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Diesels 

5. Control of Diesel Exhaust In Mines — 
After treatments 

Objective ; To develop and field 
test an exhaust emission control system 
for diesel-engine-powered equipment 



suitable for underground mining applica- 
tions. Combinations of emission control 
methods including exhaust gas recircula- 
tion, catalytic converters, particulate 
filters, and water-fuel emulsif ication 
will be investigated to determine the 
optimum combination for mining vehicles. 
The final combination will be field 
tested. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

6. Control of Diesel Exhaust In Mines — 
Fuel Modifications 

Objective ; To investigate the con- 
trol of diesel exhaust emissions by fuel 
modifications that can be made at the 
mine site. Specifically, water-fuel 
emulsif ications will be evaluated and 
optimization of the engine operating 
parameters to combust these fuels will be 
performed. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

7. Relationship of Underground Diesel 
Engine Maintenance to Emissions 

Objective ; To establish mine main- 
tenance and equipment use patterns and 
relate them to rates of engine deteriora- 
tion and emission levels. In-service 
diesel units shall be assessed with 
laboratory-quality emissions and diagnos- 
tic instrumentation. Fuel, coolant, and 
lubricating oil will be analyzed for con- 
tamination. Catalytic reactors shall be 
evaluated for conversion efficiencies. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

8. Development of a Clean Internal 
Combustion Engine for Underground 
Mining Machinery 

Objective ; To evaluate a diesel- 
metal hydride power source (a diesel 
engine modified to burn hydrogen) for use 
in underground mining equipment from the 
standpoint of mine safety, technical 
feasibility, industry acceptance, and 
economics. Hydrogen fuel will be stored 
in a metal-hydride lattice. To design a 
program leading to construction of a 



34 



prototype and subsequent demonstration of 
such a vehicle should it be warranted. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

Ventilation 

Program Objective ; To develop ven- 
tilation systems required to maintain a 
safe and healthful atmosphere conducive 
to efficient work output in noncoal 
mines. 

1. Rigid Foams for Constructing and 
Repairing Mine Stoppings 

Objective : To investigate rigid 
foams, including urethanes, for con- 
structing and repairing mine stoppings. 
Chosen foams will be evaluated based on 
their ability to adhere to material found 
in mines, to form an effective air bar- 
rier, and to present no flame or toxic 
hazard. Final foams chosen will be in- 
mine tested. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

2. Testing Jet Fans in Mines With Large 
Cross-Sectional Airways 

Objective : To develop guidelines 
for the proper placement of jet or sec- 
ondary fans in underground drifts to 
assure effective ventilation airflow. 
Ventilation airflow patterns will be 
assessed under actual in-mine conditions 
by use of a tracer gas. Different fan 
placements will be evaluated under vary- 
ing ventilation conditions in mines with 
cross-sectional areas up to 20 by 
50 feet. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

3. Optimization and Testing of Water- 
Spray Coolers 

Objective : To optimize the pres- 
ently available 5,000-cfm water-spray 
cooler to assess its potential for larger 
cooling capacity operation. To 
investigate new and improved direct- 
contact, air-water heat exchangers for 



cooling the hot working areas of deep 
mines. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

4. Water Turbine Energy Recovery System 

Objective : To design, develop, and 
test a fluid motor system that takes 
energy from the high-pressure water flow- 
ing in vertical pipelines in deep hot 
mines and converts this energy into use- 
ful mechanical or electrical energy. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



Safety 

Fire and Explosion Prevention 

Program Objectives : To reduce the 
potential for fire or explosion in min- 
eral extraction and processing opera- 
tions; to minimize the danger to people 
on account of fires or explosions that do 
occur. 



Prevention Research 

1. Surface Facility Explosion Hazards 

Objective : (1) To develop an accu- 
rate understanding of the extent and 
nature of the fire and/or explosion haz- 
ards in surface facilities that clean, 
crush, process, dry and transport coal, 
or otherwise use or generate coal, coal 
dust, or other flammables during minerals 
processing; (2) to develop an acquisition 
methodology, and to obtain the safety 
engineering data base necessary to set 
realistic standards and regulations for 
such facilities. This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 

2. Analysis of Fire Safety Tests 
and Standards 

Objective : To analyze current regu- 
latory tests, establish standard test 
procedures, and recommend regulatory 
changes. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 




3. Explosion Hazards of Oil Shale Mining 
and Processing 

Objective ; Conduct field tests and 
surveys in operating oil shale mines to 
assess methane and dust hazards, explo- 
sion hazards of in situ and surface 
retorting of oil shale, and conduct lab- 
oratory tests and sample analyses as 
appropriate. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

4. Fire Hazards of Oil Shale Mining and 
Processing 

Objective ; Conduct field tests and 
surveys in operating oil shale mines to 
assess methane and dust hazards, fire 
hazards of in situ and surface retorting 
of oil shale study spontaneous combustion 
of oil shale and conduct laboratory tests 
and sample analyses as appropriate. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Suppression Research 

5. Frictional Ignition Suppression by 
the Use of Shearer Drum-Mounted 
Sprays 

Objective ; Investigate the effec- 
tiveness of water sprays for suppressing 
frictional ignition with chisel-type 
bits. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

6. Underground Electrical Installation 
Fire Protection 

Objective ; To develop structural 
and fireproof guidelines for electrical 
equipment installations that meet the 
requirements of Section 75.1105, CFR 30. 
This is a new RFP. 

Propagation Research 

7. Fire Protection for Plastic Stacks in 
Mine Shafts 

Objective ; To perform fire experi- 
ments in laboratory-scale shafts to (1) 
develop optimum means for prevention, 
suppression, and extinguishment of mine 



35 



shaft fires; and (2) establish scaling 
laws for mine shaft fires. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

8. Large-Scale Gallery Testing To 
Establish Fire Hazards 

Objective ; To operate a large-scale 
fire gallery for evaluating the relative 
effectiveness of fire safety measures in 
metal and nonmetal mines, and to rec- 
ommend improvements in mine safety and 
fire regulations based on results of fire 
trials. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

Detection, Instrumentation, and Alarm 
Research 

9. Pneumatic Fire Detection System 
for Underground Conveyor 

Belt Haulageways 

Objective ; To determine the per- 
formance characteristics of a pneumatic 
fire detection system under normal mine 
operating conditions. This is a contin- 
uation of an ongoing effort. 

10. Evaluate the Feasibility of Remotely 
Measuring Methane 

Objective ; To fabricate a prototype 
instrument for remotely measuring methane 
concentrations. This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 

11. Demonstration of a Mine Shaft Fire 
and Smoke Protection System for 
Coal Mines 

Objective ; This cost-sharing, 
follow-on work will extend the duration 
of in-mine testing of the prototype hard- 
ware and modify it for lower maintenance. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

12. Improvement of Coal Mine Dust 
Incombustible Content Analyzer 

Objective ; To implement improve- 
ments in design and construction of a 
coal mine dust incombustible content 



36 



analyzer, as warranted by testing the 
present prototype in FY 81. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

13. Multilevel, Deep Shaft Fire 
Detection 

Objective : To evaluate and field 
test a pneumatic fire detection system 
for multi-level shafts. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

14. Improvement of Coal Mine Dust 
Incombustible Content Analyzer 

Objective : To continue development 
of an alternative incombustible content 
meter. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

15. Poisoning of Catalytic Methane 
Sensors 

Objective ; To determine catalytic 
poisons for methane sensors and to test 
methods of protection of the sensors for 
improvement of operational reliability. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

16. Development of Remote Readout Coal 
Dust Deposition Rate Monitor 

Objective ; To develop a mineworthy 
instrximent for the measurmement of dust 
deposition rate in a mine passageway and 
remotely readout the deposition rate. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

17. High Concentration Dust Meter 

Objective : To evaluate the high 
concentration dust meter through field 
tests. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

18. Upgrade Stench Warning System 

Objective : Demonstrate the improved 
stench fire warning system in a large 



multilevel metal mine. This is a contin- 
uation of an ongoing effort. 

19. Long Term, In-Mine Testing of Second 
Generation Spontaneous Combustion 
Fire Warning System 

Objective ; To evaluate the in-mine 
reliability of the second generation 
spontaneous combustion fire protection 
system for noncoal mines. This hardware 
was developed under Bureau of Mines 
under FMC Corp. contract H0282002. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

20. Omnidirectional Fire Extinguisher 
for Mine Equipment 

Objective ; To improve and simplify 
the design of the omnidirectional fire 
extinguisher and gather long-term rug- 
gedness and reliability data through 
extensive in-mine testing. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

21. Improved Fire Protection For 
Underground Fueling Areas 

Objective : To develop reliable 
mineworthy fire detection and extin- 
guishment system to protect fuel transfer 
and storage locations in underground 
mines. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

Methane Control 

Program Objectives : To develop , 
demonstrate, and transfer technology that 
will prevent the formation of flammable 
methane-air mixtures in underground mine 
workings through improved ventilation and 
procedures for degasifying the coal seam 
in advance of and during mining. To 
establish correlations between the geol- 
ogy of the material to be mined and its 
gas content, and to use these to predict 
methane emission hazards. 




Control During Mining 



Assess Oil Shale and Salt Mine 
Ventilation Requirements and 
Provide Reconmendatlons for 
Improved Ventilation Systems 



Objective ; To characterize ventila- 
tion requirements for methane control 
during the mining of salt and oil shale 
deposits, study the effectiveness of cur- 
rently existing ventilation systems, 
recommend ventilation Improvements for 
the mine, and Identify the key problem 
areas that warrant future research. This 
Is a new RFP. 

2. Cableless Borehole Survey Tool 

Objective ; To competitively procure 
two electronic borehole surveying units 
for test and evaluation. The electronic 
surveying Instrument aids in maintaining 
precise control during horizontal dril- 
ling, reduces survey time, and permits 
routine drilling to lengths of 2,000 to 
3,000 feet. The Instruments shall be 
tested and evaluated for reliability 
under a wide variety of drilling condi- 
tions. This is a new RFP. 

3. Improved Dlffuser and Spray Fan 
System for Ventilation of Coal Mine 
Working Faces 

Objective ; To provide a spray fan 
system with sufficient methane control 
capability for any gassy work faces; to 
devise, develop, and test a new auxiliary 
face ventilation concept, combining the 
advantages of dlffuser fan and water 
spray ventilation; to evaluate, modify, 
and upgrade sensor positioning and pro- 
tection for machine-mounted methane moni- 
tors. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

4. Improved Check Curtains, Line 
Curtains, and Extensible Face 
Ventilation Systems 

Objective ; Evaluate present check 
curtains, line curtains, and exten- 
sible face ventilation system for cost 



37 



practicality and air-sealing ability. 
Investigate ways to improve upon cur- 
rently used check curtains, line cur- 
tains, and extensible face ventilation 
systems, and design new and improved sys- 
tems. Select the best check curtains, 
line curtains, and extensible face venti- 
lation systems and test them at the work- 
ing sections of coal mines. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Ground Control 

Program Objectives ; To conceive, 
develop, demonstrate, and transfer tech- 
nology that will prevent mine accidents 
attributable to falls of ground, out- 
bursts, slope failures, and collapse of 
waste Impoundment structures. 

Mine Design and Development 

1. Field Demonstration of Deep- 
Penetrating Borehole Geophysical 
Techniques 

Objective ; Develop a borehole geo- 
physical technique to remotely sense and 
locate geologic features that indicate 
potentially hazardous zones or obstacles 
to future mine development. Work shall 
begin to establish practical field imple- 
mentation of the borehole radar probing 
method, and then transfer the technology 
to Industry through a series of field 
demonstrations at coal mine sites. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

2. Combined Reflection and Through- 
Transmission Acoustic Cross-Borehole 
Logging System for Detection and 
Delineation of Geologic Hazards 

Objective ; Develop and test an 
acoustic system operating between bore- 
holes over distances up to about 
330 meters for the purpose of detecting 
and delineating geological hazards within 
the borehole spacings. The system shall 
combine the best features of both reflec- 
tion and through-transmission acoustic 
systems. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



38 



3. Blasting Parameters That Affect 
Highwall Stability 

Objective ; Determine the effect of 
controllable blasting factors on highwall 
stability by field testing. Parameters 
such as blasthole size, loading tech- 
niques, delay systems, burden and spac- 
ing, bench height, hole inclination, and 
geology shall be studied. A field manual 
for use by mine personnel shall be pre- 
pared. This is a new RFP. 

4. Evaluation and Demonstration of 
Underhand Stoping to Control 
Rock Bursts 

Objective ; Demonstrate an underhand 
cut-and-fill stoping method that can 
replace the currently used overhand cut- 
and-fill method for deep, vein-type min- 
eral deposits, and determine its poten- 
tial to reduce rock bursts when used in 
conjunction with rock preconditioning 
techniques. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

5. Wallrock Reactions to Mining a 
Preconditioned Stope Zone at the 
Star Mine 



Roof Support Systems 

7. Chemical Modification of a Pumpable 
Resin 

Objective ; Provide chemical engi- 
neering consulting assistance in the 
field demonstration of the pumpable bolt. 
This will Insure that the quality of the 
pumpable resin chemistry meets or exceeds 
minimum safety standards acceptable to 
MSHA. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

8. Commercial Production Feasibility 
of Inorganic Cartridges 

Objective ; Identify and evaluate 
problem areas in the continuous produc- 
tion of water capsules and hydrocal car- 
tridges using commercial equipment, and 
evaluate the quality of 
through laboratory and 
This is a continuation 
effort. 

Safe Support Installation 

9. Development of a Roof Competence 
Tester 



these products 
field testing, 
of an ongoing 



Objective ; Process mlcroselsmic 
data from the Star Mine using the Bureau 
of Mines computer facility, locate poten- 
tial rock bursts, and advise and train 
mine personnel until stoping is finished 
in a destressed area 450 feet long 
between the 7700 and the 7900 levels.* 
This Is a new RFP. 

Hazard Detection and Monitoring Systems 

6. Ultrasonic Forward Scanning for Coal 
Mine Seam Hazard Detection 

Objective ; Develop a hand-held, 
ultrasonic scanner for use at the working 
face to rapidly and conveniently detect 
faults and voids ahead of mining. This 
is a new RFP. 



Objective ; Develop and evaluate a 
hand-held Instrument for accuracy and 
reliability in detecting cracks, fis- 
sures, delaminatlons, and poorly cemented 
and otherwise weak rock structure in coal 
mine roofs. The instrument shall be 
suitable for use with all thicknesses of 
coalbeds and different roof compositions. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

10. Retreat Mining Support System 

Objective ; Design, build, and field 
demonstrate a second generation mobile 
roof support machine for retreat mining 
that will operate in 5- to 15-foot coal 
seams. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



39 



11. Design and Develop Standardization 
Controls 

Objective ; Extend and apply past 
research efforts on human engineering 
technology in a practical, uniform way to 
new roof bolting machines and demonstrate 
their contributions in correcting present 
hazardous, accident-prone situations. 
The work is detailed design and fabrica- 
tion. The final control configurations 
will be adopted in the SAE handbook. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

12. Inorganic Grout Slurry Bolters 

Objective ; Design, build, and mine 
test a machine that will mix and inject 
fast-setting inorganic grouts. The final 
object of the program is commercial 
acceptance of the bolter. Phase III 
(laboratory testing of the complete syn- 
thesized system) and Phase IV (mine test- 
ing and final report) shall be completed. 
This will include installation of from 70 
to 100 bolts to support an intersection. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

13. Develop Equipment to Expedite the 
Safe Installation of Roof Trusses 

Objective ; Design and demonstrate 
mechanical installation equipment and 
practices for solid-rock roof trusses 
which will speed up the cycle time yet 
reduce the handling hazards associated 
with current practices. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

14. Fabricate and Test an Articulated 
Remote, Manual Roof Bolter 

Object ; Fabricate, laboratory test, 
and perform an underground demonstration 
of a prototype, articulating, remote man- 
ual roof bolter to evaluate the amount of 
accident reduction potential and produc- 
tion rate improvement. This is a contin- 
uation of an ongoing effort. 



15. Extended Field Test of Torque-Thrust 
Control and Hardened Washers 

Objective ; Determine the effects of 
using hardened washers and a Bureau- 
developed, torque-thrust control bolter 
on uniformity of bolt tension and roof 
control. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

16. Resin Injection and Resin Doweling 
for Longwall Face Stabilization 

Objective ; Define and rank problems 
of roof and face stabilization in long- 
walls, evaluate foreign and domestic 
technology in resin-injection and resin- 
doweling for application in U.S. mines; 
select those techniques that indicate the 
greatest benefits per cost and are not 
unnecessarily hazardous; develop testing 
procedures to demonstrate their effec- 
tiveness on longwall stabilization prob^ 
lems; perform and document the demonstra- 
tion and reassess the cost and safety 
benefits. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

17. Remote Drill-Bolting System 
for Metal-Nonmetal Mining 

Objective ; Design, build, and mine 
test a remote drill-bolt system for metal 
and nonmetal mining that will remove the 
bolter operator from the bolting opera- 
tion and place him in a protected area 
not exposed to unsupported ground or mov^ 
ing equipment. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

18. Scaling Tool 

Objective ; Fabricate a novel scal- 
ing tool. A unique tool for mine roof 
scaling was invented under a contract 
funded by the Bureau of Mines. The tool 
will be fabricated and delivered to the 
Bureau where it will be mounted on a car- 
rier and tested. This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 



40 



Mining and Minerals Processing Waste 
Stability 

19. Aerial Photogrannnetrlc Survey of 
Surface Coal Waste Disposal Sites 

Objective : In conjunction with a 
coiiq)anlon In-house project, field test 
aerial photogrammetry techniques to sup- 
plement MSHA Inspection of coal waste 
disposal in a selected MSHA district. 
This is a new RFP. 

20. Centrifuge Modeling of Design 
Criteria of Mine Waste Embankments 

Objective : Determine safety cri- 
teria for tailings embankments by simu- 
lating the field conditions using a cen- 
trifuge for modeling. Tests shall be run 
on a 25-foot-radlus centrifuge to inves- 
tigate seepage and erosion effects, foun- 
dation differentials, and other embank- 
ment construction problems. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

21. Critical Parameters for Tailings 
Embankments 

Objective : Construct probability 
density functions of soil parameters for 
tailings embankments of selected mineral 
commodities in the United States. The 
contractor shall collect and categorize 
engineering parameters of tailings 
embankments for future input to slope 
probablistic models for slope stability ^ 
analysis, thus enabling determination of 
confidence intervals about the factor of 
safety of tailings embankments. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Industrial Hazards 

Program Objectives : To limit the 
possibility of human error through train- 
ing and worker-machine interfacing, 
improve equipment design and controls, 
detect and prevent failures of electric 
circuitry and hardware, provide adequate 
lighting in working areas, insure contin- 
uous and reliable communication between 
all underground and surface personnel 
while providing continuous surveillance 



of the mine environment, and Improve 
safety in haulage and materials-handling 
operations. 

Human Factors 

1. Benefit-Cost Approach to Coal Mine 
Training: A Practioner's Viewpoint 

Objective ; To develop an applied 
benefit-cost model to be used by training 
and safety practitioners in assessing the 
most effective training program for their 
particular mine site. The focus of the 
model will be on training Investments 
relative to property damage and loss-time 
accidents. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

2. Development of Materials and 
Strategies for Normal and Emergency 
Operation of Equipment 

Objective ; To develop baseline 
course materials for major types of sur- 
face mining equipment including but not 
limited to scrapers, dozers, graders, 
hydraulics, excavators, and drills to 
reduce the risk to inexperienced equip- 
ment operators while assisting mine oper- 
ators in complying with task training 
requirements outlined in Part 48, CFR 30. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

3. Development of a Standardized Method 
of Performance Evaluation for 
Underground Equipment Operators 

Objective ; To develop a standarlzed 
method of evaluating the performance of 
an operator of various pieces of under- 
ground equipment. This is a new RFP. 

4. Study to Determine the Feasibility 
of Utilizing Employee Assistance 
Programs in the Mining Industry 

Objective ; To continue with the 
contract for exploring the feasibility of 
utilizing employee assistance programs to 
reduce accidents associated with employee 
personal difficulties. This is a contin- 
uation of an ongoing effort. 



5. Cause and Effect of Absenteeism 
on Accident and Injury Experience 
of Those Relieving the Absentee 

Objective ; To determine the effect 
absenteeism has on the accident and 
injury experience of those relieving the 
absentee. This is a new RFP. 

6. Development of a Handbook on Mine 
Rescue Organizations and Procedures 



miners' awareness and knowledge of 
electrical hazards. This is a continu- 
ation of an ongoing project. 

10. Refinement of the Shuttle Car 
Training System 

Objective ; To evaluate and assess 
the training capabilities of the present 
shuttle car training system. This a 
continuation of an ongoing project. 



Objective ; To develop a handbook 
that would serve as a guide to mine oper- 
ators and officials on the proper methods 
and procedures to follow for conducting a 
successful mine rescue operation. The 
handbook would focus on aboveground oper- 
ations and organization rather than the 
actual in-mine rescue attempt. This is a 
new RFP. 

7. Low-Cost Methods for Developing 
and Distributing a Training Package 
for the Operation of the Oxygen 
Self-Rescuer 

Objective ; To develop and validate 
a low-cost training guide, training tech- 
niques that are partially suitable for 
use in small mines, and informal training 
sessions. The topic of the training mod- 
ules will be the use of the new prototype 
oxygen self -rescue devices. This is a 
new RFP. 

8. Biomechanical and Work Physiology 
Study in Underground Mining 
Excluding Low Coal 

Objective ; To continue the bio- 
mechanical study of work in underground 
noncoal mines with the intent of gener- 
ating data that will be utilized in the 
optimal design for the job-work station. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

9. In-Depth Awareness of Electrical 
Hazards for Use in New Miner 
Training and/or Refresher Training 

Objective ; Produce a training pro- 
gram suitable for both new miner and 
refresher training; to enhance the 



11. Development and Validation of 
Training Program for Operators 
of Underground Noncoal Equipment 

Objective ; To continue with devel- 
opment and validation of training pro- 
grams that will instruct miners in the 
proper preshift inspection, operating, 
and shutdown procedures for various types 
of major machines and equipment utilized 
in underground noncoal mines to reduce 
accidents and injuries. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort, 

12. Preparation of Baseline Training 
Materials for Assisting Compliance- 
Accident Reduction in the Noncoal 
Mining Industry 

Objective ; To assess and evaluate 
the training materials produced under 
this contract and allow for contingencies 
not anticipated for those procurements 
initiated in FY 81. This is a continua- 
tion of an ongoing effort. 

13. A Study of Human Engineering 
and Organizational Development 

in Underground Metal and Nonmetal 
Mining 

Objective ; This work will be a con- 
tinuation and expansion of a contract 
initiated in FY 78 with the objectives to 
identify and define specific human factor 
problem areas in the underground metal 
and nonmetal mining industry that are 
susceptible to research solution or solu- 
tion through application of state- 
of-the-art knowledge; and to reduce 
human error associated with accidents 
through application of organizational 
development principles. 



42 



Electrical 

14. Trial Cable Construction and Usage 
Improvement 

Objective ; To improve ability of 
mine cables to withstand the harsh envi- 
ronment and demanding performance inher- 
ent in the mining situation, through 
improved construction, repair, and han- 
dling; and to promote the use or improved 
methods of cable protection and personnel 
protection. Continuing contracts. 

15. DC Rail Haulage System Electrical 
Protection 

Objective : To find and demonstrate 
effective means of assuring electrical 
safety in rail haulage systems. New and 
continuing contracts. 

16. Recommendations for QA Standards 
in Explosion-Proof Enclosures 

Objective ; To develop quality 
assurance (QA) standards for explosion- 
proof enclosures. These standards would 
be used by manufacturers and MSHA to 
ensure that the safety of the enclosures 
are not compromised by workmanship. Con- 
tinuing contract. 

17. Energized HI Voltage Indicator 

Objective ; Develop an indicator 
that could be placed on a high voltage 
(HV) cable in a power center or switch' 
house that would indicate if the cable is 
energized. New contract. 

18. Recommendation for a Mine Hoist 
Electrical Inspection Manual 

Objective ; Develop recommendations 
for a manual on hoist controls used in 
U.S. mines. The manual will be used by 
MSHA inspectors to determine compliance 
with regulations and for safety inspec- 
tions of mine hoists. New contra'ct. 



19. Environmental Test Criteria 
Validation 

Objective : Conduct an analysis of 
the validity of the recommended criteria 
for operational reliability tests of mine 
instrumentation developed under con- 
tract J0100040. New contract. 



20. Mine Electrical Power Systems 
Reliability 

Objective ; To assess in practical 
terms the dependability of mine power 
system components, particularly the pro- 
tective devices, to determine optimal 
inspection and maintenance, and suggest 
areas of improvements. Continuing 
contract. 

21. Examination of Existing Intrinsic 
Safety Standards for Electrical 
Equipment Used in Oil Shale Mining 

Objective ; To examine the unique 
conditions encountered in oil shale oper- 
ations expressly to determine the appli- 
cability of current permissibility and 
intrinsic safety standards, and the suit- 
ability of the electrical and electronic 
equipment. Continuing contract. 

Equipment 

22. A Study to Determine the Need 
for Lateral Load Requirements 
on Canopy Regulations 

Objective ; Determine the limits and 
desirability of a lateral load resistance 
capability regulation for underground 
equipment canopies. This is a new RFP. 

23. Radar-Transponder Anticollision 
Systems for Large Mine Haulage 
Trucks 

Objective : Long-term, in-mine test 
on the rugged, low-cost, radar- 
transponder-type anticollision systems 



43 



developed in FY 81. This is 
at ion of an ongoing effort. 



a continu- 



24. Commercialization of the Front-End 
Loader Stability Indicator 

Objective ; To optimize the elec- 
tronic circuitry and packaging of the 
Bureau's front end loader stability indi- 
cator so that the system will be accept- 
able for incorporation on new front end 
loaders. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing project. 

25. Development and Assessment of New 
and Existing Canopy Technology 

to Lower Coal Seams 

Objective ; To demonstrate the 
advantages and desirability of transverse 
cabs for use in low seams. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

26. Development of Limited Coverage 
Falling Object Protective 
Structures, for Low Coal (42" 
or less) Face Equipment 

Objective ; To successfully demon- 
strate that limited coverage protective 
structures can be employed in the low 
seam situation without adversely affect- 
ing operator visibility and comfort. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

27. Development of ROPS Performance 
Criteria for Large Mobile 
Mining Equipment 

Objective ; Provide data on large 
machine ROPS performance criteria by 
actual rollover tests of two large 
machines (over 200,000 pounds) to deter- 
mine if present criteria are adequate. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



controlling a low coal continuous miner 
from a remote operator station. Such 
demonstration will confirm that face 
equipment can be effectively operated 
off-board from a human engineered work 
station located away from the hazard of 
the face area. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

29. Analysis of ROPS in Service for at 
Least 5 Years 

Objective ; Examine and evaluate the 
fatigue-related problems of ROPS due to 
the vibrations inherent to the machine on 
which it is mounted and the terrain char- 
acteristics of the surface mine. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Illumination 

30. Innovative Illumination Hardware 
Application Engineering and 
Demonstration 

Objective ; To refine, application 
engineering and demonstrate new low glare 
illumination systems that are presently 
being developed under other contracts. 

31. Illumination of Thin Seam and 
Specialized Mining Equipment 

Objective ; To provide assistance to 
MSHA and the raining industry in the 
illumination of particularly difficult 
machines. These machines, such as rope- 
propelled auger miners and other typi- 
cally specialized machines that have been 
exempted from the regulations, will 
be illuminated and evaluated. New 
contract. 

32. Investigation of Retroreflective 
Material Applications for 
Underground Coal Mine 
Environments 



28. Fabrication and Demonstration of a 
Continuous Miner Controlled Through 
a Remotely Positioned Operator Using 
a Human Engineered Cab 

Objective ; To develop and then suc- 
cessfully demonstrate the technology for 



Objective ; To investigate the 
applicability and benefits of the use or 
retroreflective materials to enhance vis- 
ibility in underground coal mine environ- 
ments. New contract. 



A4 



33. Determination of the Illumination 
Requirements of Shaft, Tunnels, 
and Slopes 



Objective : Operations study of 
shafts, tunnels, and slopes to define 
tasks and work areas for specify- 
ing illumination requirements. New 
contract. 

34. Development of Training Materials 
and Audio Visual Aids on Mine 
Illumination 

Objective : To develop training 
materials and audio visual aids for 
instruction of mine illumination technol- 
ogy. New contract. 

35. Alternate Ways of Specifying 
and Regulating Mine Illumination 
Systems 

Objective : To investigate alternate 
ways of specifying and regulating illu- 
minated underground coal mine environ- 
ments. New contract. 

36. Feasibility Studies and 
Demonstrations of Proposed 
Surface Mine Illumination Standards 

Objective ; To demonstrate the 
feasibility and evaluate the adequacy of 
the proposed surface coal mine illumina- 
tion standards. New contract. 

37. Recommendations for Minimal 
Luminance Requirements for 
Metal-Nonmetal Mines. 



Continuing Contract. 



Objective : Define and recommend 
minimal lighting which is required to 
safely and efficiently perform task, 
jobs, and unit operations in all 
underground metal and nonmetal mines. 
Continuing contract. 



Communications-Monitoring 

38. Study of Radio Frequency (RF) 
Hazards at Low and Medium 
Frequencies to Blasting In 
Underground Mines 

Objective : Determine the hazard 
posed by low and medium frequency radio 
systems in underground mines, and to 
report the results in a comprehensive 
final report useful to regulatory 
agencies, communications designers, 
and the mining industry. Continuing 
contract. 

39. Sixth WVU Conference on Coal Mine 
Elect rotechnology 

Objective : To provide a forum for 
industry. Government, etc., to present 
the latest developments in coal mine 
health and safety related electrotechnol- 
ogy. New contract. 

40. Guidelines for Environmental 
Monitoring in Coal Mines 

Objective : To develop guidelines 
for environmental monitoring in 
coal mines which include cost- 
benefits, implementation guidelines, and 
real world case studies. Continuing 
contract. 

41. Multiplex Distribution System 
for Multichannel Pager Phone 
Communication 

Objective : To design, fabricate, 
and test a multichannel telephone com- 
munication system using the selectable 
pager phone as a local intercom which 
will provide maximum communication capa- 
bility at minimum cost. Continuing 
contract. 



45 



42. Interaction of Mine Radio Systems 
With Mine Telemetry and Control 
Systems 

Objective ; To investigate potential 
problems concerning the parasitic cou- 
pling of electromagnetic energy (mostly 
medium frequency) into environmental or 
control elementary lines, and to environ- 
mental sensors or control devices. 



47. Evaluation of Black River Mine 
Telecommunication System 

Objective ; To independently and 
objectively evaluate the impact of a 
passive reflector uhf radio system and a 
CCTV system on the operation of a room- 
and-pillar limestone mine. 

Haulage and Materials Handling 



43. Multiplex Telephone System for Small 48. 
Mines 



Development of Consistent Low G 
Hoist Arrestment Devices 



Objective ; To provide Incremental 
funding for continuation of an existing 
contract and extending the scope of work 
of that contract to provide for automatic 
interrogation of phone flags. Continuing 
contract. 

44. Systems Approach to Mine Fire Safety 



Objective ; To develop predictable 
consistent low G hoist arrestment devices 
which eliminate the high transient forces 
developed during an arrestment. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

49. Personnel Transport Vehicle 
Demonstration 



Objective ; To develop a quantita- 
tive evaluation model to be used in rat- 
ing, in terms of equivalance to CFR 
Title 30 requirements, fire safety moni- 
toring equipment, and other fire- 
protection features used in underground 
coal and metal-nonmetal mines, using a 
systems approach. Continuing contract. 

45. Underground Mine Monitoring and 
Control Testing Criteria 

Objective ; To develop a process and 
test apparatus for evaluating the per- 
formance of prospective monitoring sys- 
tems for use in underground mines. This 
development will have the capability of 
performing accelerated evaluations to 
both software and hardware through the 
use of a sophisticated computer-based 
test fixture. Continuing contract. 

46. Equipment and Services for Black 
River Mines 

Objective ; To provide equipment and 
engineering servics for timely execution 
of the "Evaluation of the Black River 
Mine Telecommunication System" contract. 
Continuing contract. 



Objective ; Modify an existing 
vehicle to incorporate the concepts 
developed under contract H0366003 and 
then demonstrate-validate the safety 
improvements affected by this modifica- 
tion. This is a new RFP. 

50. Driver Alertness Monitoring Systems 
for Large Haulage Vehicles 

Objective ; Develop and demonstrate 
reasonable prices, reliable driver alert- 
ness monitoring systems for large, open 
pit haulage vehicles. This is a continu- 
ation of an ongoing effort. 

51. Development of a Fail-Safe, 
Slack-Overload Rope Protection 
System 

Objective ; The purpose is to review 
existing rope devices to uncover defi- 
ciencies that may exist, and correct 
those deficiencies or develop improved 
instrumentation for slack-overload pro- 
tection in keeping with present mining 
technology. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



46 



Postdisaster 

Program Objectives ; To develop 
technology that will (1) enable survivors 
of a mine disaster to escape from the 
mine or to continue to survive while 
awaiting rescue by providing protection 
against toxic and/or oxygen-deficient 
atmospheres, (2) aid in the location of 
miners trapped underground, using seismic 
and electromagnetic means of communica- 
tion, and (3) facilitate postdisaster 
rescue and recovery operations through 
surface monitoring of conditions under- 
ground, emergency communications, and 
mechanized transport and life support 
equipment for mine reentry and rescue 
operations. 

Survival 

1. Lightweight Oxygen Cylinders 

Objective ; To develop a new U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) 
approved lightweight O2 pressure vessel. 
To improve mine rescue technology. This 
is a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

2. Compressed Oxygen Self-Rescuer 

Objective ; Contractor will develop 
a 1-hour compressed oxygen self-rescuer 
comparable in size and weight to avail- 
able O2 self-rescuers. Thirty units to 
be accepted by the Bureau of Mines for 
further tests and demonstrations in part, 
of FY 82. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

3. Physiological Responses of Coal 
Miners to Emergency 

Objective ; The contractor will 
quantitatively evaluate the physiological 
responses (circulatory and respiratory) 
of both male and female miners while 
wearing self-contained breathing appa- 
ratus (SCBA) for purposes of emergency 
escape or rescue. This involves measur- 
ing the psychomotor and physiological 
costs to the wearer while breathing 
against (1) positive pressure, (2) high 
CO2 concentrations, and (3) variable 
resistance. Within the next 3 years. 



this contract should define safe limits 
for the parameters listed and publish 
data to support said limits to support 
efforts to revise MSHA-National Institute 
for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) regulations 30 CFR 11. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

4. Improved Oxygen Sources for Breathing 
Apparatus 

Objective ; Development of solid 
chemicals that provide more oxygen per 
unit weight than KO2 could allow for the 
design of a lighweight oxygen-supplying 
breathing device for purposes of escape. 
Final report will provide information on 
solid O2 sources to be used in future 
oxygen self-rescuer design and develop- 
ment. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

5. Evaluation of New 30 CFR 11 Human 
Subject Test 

Objective ; Contractor will test 
current breathing apparatus to determine 
the ability of these devices to validate 
newly developed human tests for 30 CFR 
IIH. Contractor will also test effect of 
using positive pressure breathing appa- 
ratus with new human tests. To revise 
current MSHA-NIOSH requirements of 
30 CFR IIH. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

Communications 



6. Electromagnetic Rescue System for 
Deep Mines 

Objective ; Over the past several 
years, the Bureau has been experimenting 
with voice frequency (VF) communication 
systems for detection and location of 
workers trapped underground. The present 
system has been shown to be effective in 
a substantial number of coal mines and it 
is anticipated that for mines no deeper 
than 300 meters, the technology is ade- 
quate. However, for deeper mines, which 
comprise about 10 percent in number and 
involve 20 percent of the work force, 
improvements will be necessary. The 
overall goal of this effort is to 



47 



investigate possible alternatives, select 
the most promising of these options, and 
build and demonstrate implementing hard- 
ware. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

7. Adaptive Noise Cancellation 
Techniques 

Objective : To study adaptive noise 
cancellation techniques using multiple 
three-axis loop antenna and develop 
algorithms to implement these techniques. 
This is a new RFP. 

8. Reliability Study of Trapped Miner 
EM Transmitters 

Objective : To conduct a test pro- 
gram that will determine the durability 
and reliability of the Bureau-developed 
trapped miner location system, and to 
submit a comprehensive final report on 
all work, conclusions, and recommenda- 
tions. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

9. Real Time Seismic Auto Detection 

Objective : During the past year the 
Bureau has funded work to develop algo- 
rithms to enable MSHA's trapped miner 
seismic location system to automatically 
detect and locate trapped miners. How- 
ever, these algorithms will not be capa- 
ble of implementing real time operation 
with the present system. The objective 
of this proposed contract is to provide 
real time operation of the developed 
algorithms. This is a new RFP. 

Rescue and Mine Recovery 

10. Low Profile, Lightweight Rescue 
Breathing Apparatus 

Objective ; Contractor will build 
10 preproduction units of a 2-hour, 
low-profile, compressed oxygen rescue 



breathing apparatus (RBA) which will be 
suitable for use in low coal and at long- 
wall faces. The RBA's will be developed 
and available for MSHA evaluation in 
early FY 84, This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

11. Study and Design of an Integrated 
System of Mine Rescue Team Personal 
Protective Equipment and Clothing 

Objective : To critically review 
personal protective equipment used by 
mine rescue team personnel and miners 
from the viewpoint of how adequately each 
piece of equipment affords the needed 
protection and is integrated with other 
equipment worn by a member of the team. 
To perform research and development of 
personal protective equipment for mine 
rescue. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

12. Comparison of U.S. and Foreign 
Rescue Techniques and Equipment 
Used to Locate and Communicate 
With Trapped Miners 

Objective : The contractor will 
determine the techniques and equipment 
used in other countries to locate and 
rescue trapped miners. A comprehensive 
report will be written on the subject. 
This is a new RFP. 

Explosives 

Program Objectives : To assess the 
problems associated with the safe and 
effective use of explosives in all types 
of mining activity including fixed explo- 
sives, blasting agents, blasting devices, 
and blasting accessories. To conduct 
fundamental studies of explosive behavior 
and apply the results in the development 
of new technology. To develop new and 
improved test procedures as new mining 
methods are introduced and new types of 
explosives are formulated. 



48 



Blasting Practices 

1. Review of European Blasting Practices 
Used in Underground Mines and 
Permissibility Testing Procedures 

Objective : To review underground 
coal, metal, and nonmetal blasting prac- 
tices and permissibility testing and 
identify those techniques and procedures 
which relate to U.S. mining practices. 
This is a new procurement effort. 

Systems Engineering 

Program Objectives : To operate and 
maintain underground research and test 
facilities for use in testing and demon- 
strating new procedures and equipment 
before they are field tested in commer- 
cial mines. 

Systems Analysis 

1. Development of a Pilot Program for 

Underground Mine Rescue and Emergency 
Utilizing Cooperative Resources 

Objective ; To investigate ways and 
means by which State facilities can be 
utilized in responding to mine disasters. 



This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



2. Analysis of Economic Impact of 

Fatal-Nonfatal Accidents in Surface 
Coal and Metal-Nonmetal Mines 



Objective : To develop surface coal 
and metal-nonmetal mine cost data bases 
for each year where coal accident and 
injury files are available from MSHA and 
develop an interactive information 
retrieval system. This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 

Test Facilities 

3. Construction and Installation of Wire 
Hoist Horizontal Axial Fatigue 
Tensile Testing Machine 

Objective ; To build a wire rope 
testing machine and test hoist ropes of 
commonly used sizes and construction to 
subsequently obtain reliable data that 
can be used to improve retirement cri- 
teria standards, aid users in proper wire 
rope selection, improve MSHA inspection 
procedures, and improve MSHA wire rope 
regulations. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 



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